Sickle+Cell+Disease

__Sickle Cell Disease __ **I.Overview** Sickle cell disease also known as, "Sickle Cell Anemia" is a condition where there is not enough healthy red blood cells in the body to carry out a safe amount of oxygen throughout the bloodstream. Healthy red blood cells are round, flexible, and can navigate the body smooth and easily. Sickled cells are rigid, sticky, and look like sickles. They can't navigate easily and usually end up getting stuck in smaller blood vessels which blocks the blood flow and carry of oxygen. In the Unites States and US territories, all new-born babies are required to get a screening for SCD. (1) 1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sickle-cell-anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355876 **II.Signs and Symptoms** Sickle Cell disease is present at birth and normally does not affect the child until about 5 to 6 months of age. Some early signs of SCD are yellowing of the skin and sclera (whites of the eyes) which is called, "jaundice" and vision problems. Some symptoms that are present in those who have this disorder are fatigue or fusiness from anemia, constant infection, and painful swelling of the hands and feet. Sickle cell anemia can be fatal if not treated properly because it can damage the organs. Life expectancy for people with SCD for males is 42 years old and 48 years old for females. (2) 2. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/sickle-cell-disease Sickle Cell Disease displays codominance. There is another form of Sickle Cell Disease called "Sickle Cell Trait" which is like SCD but only half of the red blood cells are sickled and the other half are normal. Sickle Cell Trait is the heterozygous form of it. It is not a sex-linked disease but is found on chromosome 11. (3, 4) 3. https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/sickle-cell-disease#inheritance 4. https://www.genome.gov/10001219/learning-about-sickle-cell-disease/
 * III. Genetics**

Distribution: The Sickle Cell disease affects millions of people around the world and is most commonly found in people who come from sub-Saharan Africa, India, and Mediterranean countries. These countries include Italy, Turkey and Greece. The Sickle Cell disease occurs among 1 out of every 365 black or African American births. To add on, it also occurs among 1 out of every 16,000 Hispanic American births. About 1 in 13 Black or African babies are born with a Sickle Cell trait. The Sickle Cell disease is mostly found throughout racial groups because those geographic regions are most prone to America. 5. [|__https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/sicklecell/data.html__] → website used for distribution

Management and treatment: When parents learn that their baby has sickle cell disease, it’s the beginning of a lifelong education process. It is very important that children who have sickle cell disease take the medicine hydroxyurea. This is used to reduce the need for blood transfusions and the painful crisis caused by the disease. The medication is also used to treat certain cancers such as chronic myelogenous leukemia, and squamous cell carcinomas. To add on, another treatment to use when diagnosed with Sickle Cell disease is Routine child immunizations. Immunizations in adulthood are important too. This is because your childhood vaccines might have worn off so it is very important to get them when you are an adult too. Extra vaccines are required for those who travel daily, work in certain health cares or have an illness. Starting at 2 years, your child should get screening for a transcranial ultrasound. This test can be important for Sickle Cell disease because it checks your blood arteries in your head and neck. 6. [|__https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/default.htm__] → website used for treatments 7. __ [] __ → website used for treatments

Miscellaneous: The antibiotic penicillin is life-saving. People with sickle cell disease are at increased risk of serious bacterial infections. Starting penicillin twice a day for the first five years of life has changed the course of this condition from something only seen in children into a condition people live into adulthood with.



This is a youtube video that explains Alexandria's journey while having sickle cell disease. She was 17 years old and began with having exhaustion and general sickness which turned into severe pain at night. After experiencing many strokes, Alexandria was then diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease.