Sickle cell anemia is one of the most prevalent inherited blood disorders affecting children. Around 250 million people worldwide have sickle cell anemia-causing genetic abnormalities. The symptoms of sickle cell anemia do not manifest in the person who has these mutations, but they do appear in their children later in life.

This page will explain what sickle cell anemia is, its symptoms, how to diagnose it, and how to prevent it.

What exactly is sickle cell anemia?

It is a hereditary disorder caused by a deficiency in the gene responsible for the synthesis of hemoglobin in the blood, which is important for delivering oxygen throughout the body. It changes the morphology of red blood cells, causing them to become crescent or sickle-shaped. Normal blood cells are round in form to ease flow through blood channels and have a lifespan of about 120 days. When they become crescent or sickle-shaped, they can no longer pass through blood vessels and die within 10-20 days, reducing the volume of red blood cells in the body and causing anemia and other health problems. As a result, sickle cell anemia gained its name.

What are the signs and symptoms of sickle cell disease?

Sickle cell anemia symptoms often occur between the ages of 5 and 6 months and vary in intensity from person to person. Among the most noticeable of these symptoms were:

1.  Anemia causes tiredness and lethargy.
2.  Severe abdominal, joint, and chest pain as a result of reduced blood flow through blood vessels
3.  Hand and foot swelling.
4.  Infections that reoccur.
5. Growth is slowed as a result of insufficient oxygen moving throughout the body.
6. Vision difficulties that can lead to blindness as a result of blood artery blockage carrying blood to the eye, causing retinal damage.
7. A severe headache has struck.

 Sickle cell anemia can sometimes cause serious consequences, such as:

1. Obstetrical complications: Because it increases the risk of high blood pressure or blood clots, which can lead to miscarriage, early birth, or low birth weight.
2. Organ damage caused by a disruption in blood flow to organs.
3. The stroke.
4. Ulcers on the legs.
5. Acute chest syndrome, due to blockage of blood vessels in the lungs, leading to chest pain and shortness of breath.

How can sickle cell anemia be diagnosed?

Blood tests are normally used to detect the kind of hemoglobin that causes sickle cell anemia, and the doctor may order additional testing. It can also be discovered early by genetic testing such as carrier and prenatal genetic screening, which includes the study of the amniotic fluid around the fetus before birth, as well as the examination of placental cells.

Is it possible to treat sickle cell anemia?

There is no cure for sickle cell anemia, although stem cell transplantation may be an option. The treatment procedures used with sickle cell anemia patients vary depending on the type of anemia and the symptoms they have, but doctors usually resort to blood transfusions to compensate for the lack of red blood cells, as well as medications to reduce infections and other complications caused by sickle cell anemia.

Is sickle cell anemia distinct from other types of anemia?

Yes, sickle cell anemia causes normal red blood cells to be destroyed and their shape to change into a crescent or sickle shape, however, in other types of anemia (such as iron deficiency anemia, hemolytic anemia, and so on), the patient has healthy red blood cells but their quantity is lower than normal.

How is sickle cell anemia managed and prevented?

Patients with sickle cell anemia typically have moderate to severe symptoms, although it is recommended that the following steps be taken to lessen the severity of sickle cell anemia symptoms and complications:

1. Genetic counseling: Genetic counseling assists you in selecting the proper genetic test to detect the mutations in your genes that cause sickle cell anemia in you. It also assists you in determining how much sickle cell anemia will affect your children in the future and offers you the required advice on prevention techniques or possible therapies.
2. Maintain healthy behaviors.

To lessen the intensity of sickle cell anemia symptoms, it is recommended that you practice the following healthy habits:

• Getting adequate fluids.
• Avoiding activities that cause a drop in your oxygen level, such as strenuous exercise.
• Keeping your body temperature moderate by avoiding excessive cold or hot weather as much as possible.
• Avoiding high altitudes, such as mountains, planes, and so on.

Finally, genetic testing before marriage or during pregnancy can prevent your children from the challenges of sickle cell anemia and its many kinds in the future, allowing them to enjoy their life as possible.