The document provides information about sickle cell anemia. It discusses that sickle cell anemia is a genetic blood disorder where red blood cells become sickle shaped and have trouble flowing through small blood vessels. This causes tissue damage from lack of blood flow. Symptoms include anemia, pain episodes, organ damage, and stroke. It is inherited when both parents carry the sickle cell gene. While there is no cure, treatment focuses on managing pain and preventing complications.

1. Essay on Sickle Cell Anemia
Introduction Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an autosomal–recessive inheritance that results from a alteration in the gene responsible for the hemoglobin
production. A healthy hemoglobin A is produced under normal circumstances, but for people with SCD they produce a sickle hemoglobin S. (Gill, V.,
2010) Unlike normal hemoglobin A, hemoglobin S has a tendency to agglutinate, or clump together, when the oxygen supply is decreased. As a
result, the red blood cells take on a rigid or "sickle" shape causing the diameter of the cells to increase relative to the size of normal red blood cells.
These sickled cells block the blood vessels causing compromised blood supply to the tissues and bones, resulting in a vaso–occlusive crisis. (Jisieike,
...show more content...
During a crisis a patient may report symptoms of fever, swelling of the hands and feet, swelling
of the abdomen and lower left side, and pain in the joints, chest or muscles. (Gill, V., 2010) Once
a patient has had vaso–occlusive pain over a long period of time, the pain is similar from one
crisis to another, and it usually occurs at the same site. (Wright, K., & Adeosun, O., 2009) Vaso
–
occlusive crises can occur spontaneously or they may be triggered by cold weather, anxiety,
infection, physical activity or high altitude. (Jisieike, C., 2007) Due to the recurring pain that a patient has, they also experience psychological
symptoms
associated with the disease. Many children with SCD shows signs of impaired growth and
delayed sexual maturation. This may lead to poor self–esteem and depression, resulting in a
disturbance of one's body image. Children may also develop anticipatory anxiety due to the
uncertainty of their condition. (Jisieike, C., 2007) Planning

2. The patient in a vaso–occlusive crisis may have acute pain related to tissue hypoxia due to
agglutination of sickled cells within the blood vessels. Managing symptoms and preventing
crises and complications are the main focus for a SCD patient. Pain is a recurring factor, and the
main goal is to determine what pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic measures can be used to
keep the recurring pain under
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3. Essay on Sickle Cell Anemia
Abstract
Sickle Cell Anemia is a hereditary disease that changes the smallest and most important components of the body. A gene causes the bone marrow in
the body to make sickled shapes, when this happens; it causes the red blood cell to die faster. This is what causes Hemolytic Anemia. Older children
and adults with sickle cell disease may experience a few complications, or have a pattern of ongoing problems that shorten their lives. The most
common and serious complications of sickle cell disease are anemia, pain, fatigue, and organ failure. Today there are many alternatives and
opportunities that a sickle cell patient may consider. One outlined in this paper is the Hydroxyurea method.
Sickle Cell Anemia
Sickle Cell Anemia takes...show more content...
Thousands of years ago, a genetic mutation occurred in people from the Mediterranean basin, India, Africa, and the Middle East. As the Malaria
Epidemic attacked people of these countries, carriers of the defective hemoglobin gene survived. Carrying one defective gene means that a person has
a sickle cell trait. Two parents with the trait will produce a child with sickle cell anemia. People of these countries migrated and spread to other areas.
In the Western Hemisphere, where malaria is not much of a problem, having the abnormal hemoglobin gene has lost its advantage. Any child born from
parents that each has the trait will be born with the disease.
Approximately, two million Americans carry the sickle cell trait. 72,000 people are affected by sickle cell anemia in the U.S., most of whose
ancestors had come from sub Saharan Africa, Spanish speaking regions, and Mediterranean countries such as Turkey, Greece, and Italy. In Hispanic
American births, one in every thousand people acquire sickle cell anemia. The symptoms created by the blockage of blood flow can vary from patient
to patient. Some have milder symptoms than others. Physicians use Hand–foot syndrome on patients to determine the disease. Sickle cells that clog
small blood vessels in the hands and feet are one characteristic of the disease. Symptoms the patient suffers are swelling of the hands, feet and various
joints. The pain
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4. Sickle Cell Essay
Sickle cell disease is the group of inherited disorder of the red blood cells that is characterize by abnormal hemoglobin. The red blood cells in sickle
cell disease are rigid and sickle shape. Many complications arise due to the sickle shaped cells because these cells are not flexible as compare to normal
red blood cells and and causes destruction and blockage of red blood flow. The most common form of sickle cell disease is autosomal recessive
disorder is sickle cell anemia.
Sickle cell anemia was first described by J. Herrick in 1910 (1) and he found that the hemoglobin plays important role in transporting oxygen to red
blood cell and transporting low oxygen to red blood cell results in the sickle shaped red blood cells. Since sickle shaped red...show more content...
The sickle cell anemia can occur early in the life and early diagnosis is very crucial. The complication in person with sickle cell anemia arise around 5
to 6 months. Since this condition typically shows autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance, type of hemoglobin affected depends on which gene are
inherited from his/her parents. For example, there are 50% chances of developing sickle–cell anemia with HbS in red blood cells and 50% chances of
having sickle cell trait with Hb A and HbS if one parent has sickle cell anemia and other parent has sickle cell trait. The sickle cell anemia effect both
the gender equally.
The diagnosis of sickle cell anemia can be done by many methods. The shape of red blood cells which will be sickled shaped in case of sickle cell
anemia and It can be check under microscope for a initial diagnoses. The most common method for the analysis of abnormal hemoglobin is protein
electrophoresis. In protein electrophoresis, normal individual will show one band for hemoglobin A(HbA) and this method is not expensive and it is
used world
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5. Sickle Cell Disease Essay
Sickle Cell Disease
Sickle Cell Disease is an illness that affects people all across the globe. This paper will give a description of the sickness through the discussion of the
causes, symptoms, and possible cures. Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a "group of inherited red blood cell disorders."(1) These disorders can have
various afflictions, such as pain, damage and a low blood count––Sickle Cell Anemia.
The overall incidence of SCD is eight out of 100,000 people. However, it is much more widespread in some people. "One out of 600 African
Americans and one out of 1,000 to 1, 400 Hispanic Americans" are affected. (2). However, there are other populations who are especially affected, as
well. These include, but are not...show more content...
In order to get Sickle Cell Anemia, you must have the Sickle Cell Trait. This is defined as "A person who carries one sickle hemoglobin producing
gene inherited from their parents and one normal hemoglobin gene." (3) People who only have one copy of the mutation have the trait. "It is
estimated that 1 in 12 African Americans has sickle cell trait." (3) Having the trait will NOT cause SCD. However, having the gene does allow you
to pass the mutation on to your children. In fact, "A child conceived by two people with sickle cell trait has one chance in two of also having sickle
cell trait, one chance in four of having sickle cell anemia."(3)
Now that the disease is more clearly defined, we must ask, why did this illness come about? This is one of the most interesting facts about Sickle Cell.
Since the trait originated in countries that were ravaged by malaria, it could be said that this trait evolved to fight the deadly mosquito–spread disease.
"People with sickle trait were more likely to survive malaria outbreaks in Africa than those with normal hemoglobin, it is believed that genetically
aberrant hemoglobin evolved as a protection against malaria."(2) It has also been said that, "People with a single copy of a particular genetic mutation
[sickle cell trait] have a survival advantage. One copy of the mutation confers a benefit." (3) Its quite interesting to find that original purpose of this
gene was
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6. Sickle Cell Anemia Essay
The sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects red blood cells. People with sickle cell have red blood cells that have mostly
hemoglobin's, Sometimes these red blood cells become sickle–shaped or crescent shaped and have trouble going through small blood vessels.
When sickle–shaped cells block small blood vessels, less blood can get to that part of the body. Tissue that does not get a normal blood flow eventually
becomes damaged.This is what causes the problems of sickle cell disease.As to this day there is really no cure for sickle cell disease.Red blood cells
take oxygen from the air we breathe into our lungs to all parts of the body.
Oxygen is carried in red blood cells by a substance called hemoglobin(Hemoglobin –...show more content...
Like most genes, hemoglobin genes are inherited in two sets...one from each parent(Ex. If one parent has Sickle Cell
Anemia and the other is Normal, all of the children will have sickle cell trait. 4 If one parent has sickle cell anemia and the other has sickle cell trait,
there is a 50% chance (or 1 out of 2) of having a baby with either sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait with each pregnancy,When both parents have
sickle cell trait, they have a 25% chance (1 of 4) of having a baby with sickle cell disease with each pregnancy). HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU
HAVE THIS TRAIT A SIMPLE PAINLESS
BLOOD TEST followed by a laboratory technique called Hemoglobin Electrophoresis will determine the type of hemoglobin you have. When you pass
an electric charge through a solution of hemoglobin, distinct hemoglobins move different distances, depending on their composition. This technique
differentiates between normal hemoglobin (A), Sickle hemoglobin (S), and other different kinds of hemoglobin (such as C, D, E,).
Medical Problems Sickle cells are destroyed rapidly in the body of people with the disease causing anemia, jaundice and the formation of gallstones.
The sickle cells also block the flow of blood through vessels resulting in lung tissue damage (acute chest syndrome), pain episodes
(arms, legs, chest and abdomen), stroke and priapism (painful prolonged erection). It
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7. Sickle Cell Anemia Essay
Sickle cell anemia is an inherited disease in which the body is unable to produce normal hemoglobin, an iron–containing protein. Sickle cell anemia is a
disease in which the body is unable to produce normal hemoglobin, an iron–containing protein. Abnormal hemoglobin can change cells that can become
stuck in narrow blood vessels, blocking oxygen from reaching organs and tissues. Tissue that does not get a normal blood flow eventually becomes
damaged. This is what causes the problems of sickle cell disease. As to this day there is really no cure for Sickle Cell Disease. I choose to topic because
there are a number of persons in my family who have Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). From personal experience I knew that the disease could take a toll on
...show more content...
The restriction of oxygen from the organs reduces the functioning of the organs, which control our immune systems, which normally help people
fight fevers and infections. The lack of oxygen also causes the skin to change its pigmentation. After learning the physical traits of SCD, I begin to
wonder if Sickle Cell Disease had just as much of a neurological impact on a child as much as it did physically.
In the early years of the disease there was an absence any neurological findings. Recent research still leaves little to be said about Sickle Cell Disease;
but there has been a connection mad between Sickle Cell Disease children who experience a stroke and cognitive functioning.
"One of the most significant potential effects of SCD that can negatively impact a child's school functioning is a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or
stroke. Although most children with SCD will not experience a stroke, those who do are at risk for educational problems associated with
neuropsychological deficits. Approximately 7% to 17% of all patients with SCD will experience a stroke. The mean age of stroke in these patients is
7 years with most occurring before the age of 15 years (Powars, Wilson, Imbus, Pegelow, & Allen, 1978; Wood, 1978). Importantly, children with SCD
who suffer a stroke are at high risk for subsequent strokes within three years following the initial incident (Portnoy &
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8. Sickle Cell Anemia Essay
Sickle Cell Anemia
Sickle cell anemia is caused by a defect in the gene that controls the production of normal hemoglobin, which is an iron–containing protein in red blood
cells that transports oxygen from the lungs to body tissues. The defective gene results in the production of abnormal hemoglobin known as
hemoglobin S. If you have the disorder, you inherited one gene for hemoglobin S from each of your parents. The gene is recessive, so if you
received a copy of the gene from just one parent, you are a carrier of the sickle cell gene.Under certain conditions, after hemoglobin S releases its
oxygen, its molecules clump together forming rigid and elongated crystals. The crystals settle to one side of the cell, which collapses the...show more
content...
In adolescence, sexual maturation may be delayed. The disturbances in blood flow associated with the disease also dispose affected persons to
infections and leg ulcers. These symptoms are due to the change in hemoglobin, which changes shape when the amount of oxygen in the blood is
reduced for any reason. The red blood cell in which the hemoglobin is contained changes its shape as well, from round to crescent (sickle shaped). The
sickle–shaped red cells interfere with normal blood flow by plugging up small blood vessels.Early detection of sickle cell anemia can save lives.
Newborn screening can be done before babies leave the hospital. Infants who are found to have sickle cell disease can be immediately entered into a
program of pediatric care. Treatment for older patients are to take a daily multivitamin, decrease or avoid stress, Eat a well–balanced, highly nutritious
diet, take all medications exactly as prescribed, drink plenty of fluids each day, get yearly eye exams from an ophthalmologist, and to learn all you
can about sickle cell disease.The first effective drug treatment for adults with severe sickle cell anemia was reported in 1995. A study conducted by
the NHLBI showed that daily doses of the anticancer drug, hydroxyurea, reduced the rate of
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