Sickle cell anemia is a hereditary disorder in which red blood cells of the body are shaped into an unusual crescent shape. Its effects may be hospitalized because episodes suffering (known as crisis) occur in the chest, back or long bones of those suffering. Everyone in this disease needs ongoing treatment to treat the disease in a timely manner. This disease most commonly happens to people in African traditions.
Symptoms include abdominal pain, dyspnea, delayed growth, fatigue, fever, pale complexion, foot ulcers, heart palpitations and the like. Because frequent attacks can cause disorders that damage the work of the victims, those who complain of severe pain regularly can be subject to social security obstacles as part of their illness.
Antibiotics to prevent regular blood transfusion and infection are necessary to treat this disease. Drugs that relieve pain are usually given during the crisis. Transplantation and surgery are useful for treating diseases and very dangerous bone marrow transplantation can completely cure diseases. Due to the risk of bone marrow rejection, cost and difficulty in obtaining bone marrow, most people never attempt to cure and will never merely treat ongoing symptoms.
Sickle cell anemia occurs when hemoglobin, oxygen-carrying protein, is abnormally shaped in human blood cells. This irregular shape makes it difficult for cells to pass through several veins and makes them very fragile. The delicate nature and easy destruction of these cells through thin blood vessels can lead to the need for constant re-creation of the cells. Although this disease is hereditary, not all carriers of genes generate sickle cells. Nonetheless, this disease may be passed on to the next generation.
Sickle cell anemia can be tested by complete blood count, hemoglobin electrophoresis or sickle cell test. Blood oxygen, CT scan, MRI test also helps diagnosis of disease. Death from this disease is usually due to organ dysfunction or infection. Due to the progress of modern medicine, patients with this disease can easily live to over 50 years old.
The preventive crisis of sickle cell anemia should avoid high environmental conditions of intense physical activity, stress, hypoxia and smoking. To help fight against sickle cells of blood cells, normal liquid consumption is necessary. Due to the increased risk of infection, patients with sickle cell anemia are the latest information on vaccination and need precaution to avoid infection with pathogenic bacteria and parasites.
