Sickle Cell Anemia: Frequently Asked Questions
How common is sickle cell anemia?
Sickle cell anemia affects millions of people throughout the world. It is particularly common among people whose ancestors come from Africa; Spanish speaking regions (South America, Cuba, Central America); Saudi Arabia; India; and Mediterranean countries, such as Turkey, Greece, and Italy. In the United States, most people who have sickle cell disease are African American. ...
Source: www.dhss.mo.gov
It is estimated that over 2 million people suffer from sickle cell disease, worldwide. It is particularly common among people whose ancestors come from sub- Saharan Africa; Spanish speaking regions (South America, Cuba, Central America); Saudi Arabia; India; and Mediterranean countries, such as Turkey, Greece, and Italy. In this country, it affects approximately 72,000 people, most of whose ancestors, come from Africa. ...
Source: www.vahealth.org
How is sickle cell anemia detected?
Most states now perform a blood test for sickle cell disease on all newborn infants. Early diagnosis of sickle cell anemia is critical so that children who have the disease can receive proper treatment. Since May 1989, all babies born in Missouri are tested for sickle cell conditions through the Missouri Newborn Screening Program (MNSP). This test is performed at the same time and from the same blood samples as other routine newborn screening tests. ...
Source: www.dhss.mo.gov
Early diagnosis of sickle cell anemia is critical. Early detection, education, and the use of penicillin may reduce life-threatening complications. More than 40 states now perform a simple, inexpensive blood test for sickle cell disease on all newborn infants. This test is performed at the same time and from the same blood samples as other routine newborn screening tests. Hemoglobin electrophoresis is the most widely used diagnostic test. ...
Source: www.vahealth.org
Is sickle cell anemia a contraindication?
Sickle cell anemia is not considered a contraindication for the use of Norplant implants. However, the Council does not have data from clinical trials, since women who were anemic were not included in the Council's studies with Norplant implants.
Source: www.popcouncil.org
Sickle cell anemia is not considered a contraindication for the use of Jadelle. However, the Population Council does not have relevant data from clinical trials since women who were anemic were not included in the Council’s studies with Norplant capsules or with Jadelle. One published study indicated that women with sickle cell anemia did not suffer adverse effects when using Norplant capsules.
Source: www.popcouncil.org
What is Sickle Cell Anemia?
Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disorder, characterized primarily by chronic anemia and periodic episodes of pain. The abnormal hemoglobin molecules tend to cluster together, and form long rod like structures. These structures cause some of the red blood cells to become stiff and to assume a sickle shape. In sickle cell anemia, the hemoglobin is defective. After the hemoglobin molecules give up their oxygen, some of them may cluster together and form long, rod-like structures. ...
Source: www.fratmadness.com
Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA) is an inherited red blood cell disorders. Normal red blood cells are round like doughnuts, and they move through small blood tubes in the body to deliver oxygen. Sickle red blood cells become hard, sticky and shaped like sickles. When these hard pointed red cells go through the small blood tube, they clog the flow and break apart. This can cause pain, damage and a low blood count, or anemia.
Source: www.personal.psu.edu
Can Sickle Cell Anemia Be Cured?
No cure has been found yet, but scientists are working to find a cure. Research and education are among top priorities in sickle cell programs funded through the National Heart and Lung Institute.
Source: www.nwinsicklecell.org
The only cure for sickle cell anemia is bone marrow transplantation. Unfortunately, this is not even available for more than 80 percent of our children. In addition, for many children with sickle cell anemia, bone marrow transplantation may not be appropriate because it remains a difficult procedure with many complications. It is important to discuss all options with your doctor.
Source: www.saintbarnabas.com
What Is The Treatment For Sickle Cell Anemia?
Infections are treated with antibiotics at the earliest moment, particularly in children. Drinking an adequate amount of fluids is encouraged at all times. Blood transfusions and exchange transfusions are sometimes needed. The treatment varies depending upon the organs involved and the nature of the complication. You must consult your physician for physical checkups and follow up care. Sickle Cell Anemia cannot be corrected with iron medication or foods containing iron.
Source: www.nwinsicklecell.org
What Are The Symptoms of Sickle Cell Anemia?
Sickle Cell Anemia is clearly manifested at an early age. The child becomes pale, tires easily, eats poorly, may have swelling of the hands and feet, slow growth, pain in arms, legs, back and abdomen.
Source: www.nwinsicklecell.org
Why Is It Called Sickle Cell Anemia?
The sickled red blood cells have a shorter life span than normal red blood cells and are easy to break, thereby causing the blood count to be lower than normal (anemia). The body cannot make new cells fast enough to keep up with the destruction. Therefore, the blood count remains below normal throughout life.
Source: www.nwinsicklecell.org
How is sickle cell anemia treated?
Although there is no cure for sickle cell anemia, doctors can do a great deal to help sickle cell patients, and treatment is constantly being improved. Basic treatment of painful crises relies heavily on pain-killing drugs and oral and intravenous fluids to reduce pain and prevent complications. Blood transfusions are used to treat and to prevent some of the complications of sickle cell anemia. Transfusions correct anemia by increasing the number of normal red blood cells in circulation. ...
Source: www.vahealth.org
What causes sickle cell anemia?
In sickle cell anemia, the hemoglobin gene is defective. The defective gene tells the body to make the abnormal hemoglobin that results in deformed red blood cells. After the hemoglobin molecules give up their oxygen, some of them may cluster together and form long, rod-like structures. These structures cause the red blood cells to become stiff and to assume a sickled shape. Unlike normal red cells, which are usually smooth and donut-shaped, the sickled red cells cannot squeeze through small blood vessels. ...
Source: www.childrens.com
How do you get sickle cell anemia or trait?
You inherit the abnormal hemoglobin from your parents. You cannot catch it from someone else or pass it to another person like a cold or other infections. You are born with sickle cell hemoglobin and it is present for life. If you inherit only one sickle gene, you have sickle cell trait and will not develop the disease. If you inherit two sickle cell genes, you have sickle cell anemia.
Source: www.dhss.mo.gov
What Precautions Should Persons With Sickle Cell Anemia Take?
Try to maintain good health by eating a well balanced diet, and getting enough rest. Avoid stress such as colds and fatigue. Be careful to prevent infections from cuts and bruises. Special attention to skin care and overall personal hygiene is a must.
Source: www.nwinsicklecell.org
How do you get sickle cell anemia?
You inherit the abnormal hemoglobin from both parents who may be carriers with sickle cell trait or parents with sickle cell disease. You can not catch it. You are born with the sickle cell hemoglobin and it is present for life.
Source: www.oscarsandwell.org.uk
Does Vitamin B17 help sickle Cell Anemia?
A lot of fine work is being done on this. Robert Houston has done some very brilliant studies along these lines and he has published several top-rate papers. Sickle Cell anemia crises is the result of a fulminating deficiency of Vitamin B17 and it occurs in Americans of African origin, who upon leaving the African continent become removed from a dietary source of vitamin B17. Sickle Cell crisis is a Vitamin B17 deficiency disease in the same way that Pernicious Anemia is a Vitamin B12, Folic Acid deficiency disease.
Source: malebreastcancer.8m.com
Can Jobelyn provide a cure for Sickle-Cell Anemia?
We do not claim that Jobelyn can cure for sickle-cell anemia but it may prevent patients from having the crisis normally associated with this disease. It increases appetite, assisting in weight gain and maintains the general well-being of the patients.
Source: www.health-forever.com
What Is The Difference Between Sickle Cell Anemia and Sickle Cell Disease?
Sickle Cell Anemia is the most severe form of Sickle Cell Disease. Other Sickle Cell Diseases are: Sickle Cell Thalassemia (Cooley's Anemia), Sickle Cell C Disease, Sickle Cell D Disease, and any other abnormal hemoglobin combined with sickle hemoglobin. normal hemoglobin Hb ? 2 alpha and 2 beta chains form a 4 chain tetramer beta chains bind with other beta chains in red blood cell (RBC) when deoxygenated; polymerization occurs; Hb polymers distort RBC into sickled shapes: vaso-occlusion
Source: www.nwinsicklecell.org
What is the difference between sickle cell trait and sickle cell anemia?
Normal red blood cells contain hemoglobin A and some other minor types of hemoglobin. Children with sickle cell trait have red blood cells mainly containing hemoglobin A and some hemoglobin S. Children with sickle cell anemia have red blood cells with mainly hemoglobin S. There are other forms of abnormal red blood cells referred to as the thalassemias, which can affect the severity of your child's blood disorder. These are very rare, and should be discussed thoroughly with your child's physician.
Source: www.pedsanesthesia.org
Is it possible to detect Sickle Cell Anemia in an unborn baby?
Yes. By sampling the amniotic fluid or tissues taken from the Placenta. The doctors can tell whether a fetus has Sickle Cell Anemia or Sickle Cell Trait. This test can be done as early as the first trimester of Pregnancy
Source: www.sicklecell.prudents.org
Is it possible to detect sickle cell anemia in before a child is born?
Yes. By sampling the amniotic fluid or tissue taken from the placenta, doctors can tell whether a fetus has sickle cell anemia or sickle cell trait. This test can be done as early as the first trimester I of pregnancy. • What should future parents know? People who are planning to become parents should know whether they are carriers of the sickle cell gene, and, if they are, they may want to seek genetic counseling. ...
Source: www.vahealth.org
How can sickle-cell anemia, a fatal childhood genetic disease, continue to be prevalent if natural selection is operating?
The allele for sickle cell anemia, HbS, is a recessive gene. If an individual is homozygous for the allele, it is probably fatal. But if an individual is heterozygous, that person has some immunity from malaria. Because malaria is so prevalent and destructive in parts of Africa, India, and the Mediterranean, the gene has been maintained there through natural selection despite the problems in the homozygous form.
Source: highered.mcgraw-hill.com
Is there any thinking that if malaria were eradicated that sickle cell anemia would also die out?
That's a good question. Presumably, if the selective advantage conferred by the sickle cell trait (malaria resistance) disappeared, then the selective disadvantage conferred because of the disease would dominate, and the trait would tend to vanish from the population.
Source: www.uchsc.edu
I don't have Sickle Cell Anemia, but I carry the trait. Can I still donate?
You can donate blood if you have sickle cell trait. However, all blood is currently filtered to help prevent reactions in the recipient. Blood with sickle cell trait does not filter well. We encourage donors with sickle cell trait to donate plasma or platelet apheresis. These two types do not get filtered.
Source: www.giveblood.org
A child has a paternal aunt and maternal uncle with sickle cell anemia. Neither of her parents have sickle cell anemia. What is the probability that this child has sickle cell disease?
a) 0 (b) 1/9 (c) 1/4 (d) 1/2 (e) Cannot be determined from the information provided.
Source: www.ratsteachgenetics.com
I have SICKLE CELL ANEMIA. Am I at increased risk of stroke?
Sickle Cell Anemia, a genetic disease affecting the red blood cells most commonly found in African Americans and Hispanics, is highly associated with stroke risk, especially in children. About one in fourteen individuals with the disease will develop a stroke at some point in life. In children, sickle cell anemia is the most common cause of stroke. In addition, the probability of a recurrent stroke is especially high for those with this disorder. ...
Source: inova.org
My teenage daughter has sickle cell anemia. She misses school often when she is in crisis and is having difficulty fitting in with the kids at her high school. Any suggestions?
Sickle cell is a very troubling disease for young adolescents. Many of their peers do not seem to understand the pain and discomfort that is often quite variable. Here, many times, information for her friends with her full knowledge, that is, about the disease can be quite helpful. Often times adolescents are quite embarrassed about "being different", and sickle cell has a way of promoting this feeling of isolation. ...
Source: lib.cpums.edu.cn
