Sickle cell anemia
Sickle Cell Anemia Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disorder, primarily characterized by chronic anemia and periodic episodes of pain. ... A person who has sickle cell anemia has defective hemoglobin. ... These structures cause the red blood cells to become stiff and assume a sickle shape (See figure 1). ... Figure 1: Sickled Red Blood Cells In the Unites States, most newborn infants are tested for sickle cell anemia before they leave the hospital. ... People with sickle cell anemia may develop jaundice, a condition resulting from the high rate of breakdown of red blood cells. ... A person with sickle cell anemia may also experience bouts of pain in there chest, stomach, arms, legs, or bones caused by the blockage of blood flow due to sickled cells. ... Teens with sickle cell anemia may become tired more easily and have more problems fighting infections than other teens. ... Whereas one person may have only one sickle cell crisis a year, another may experience them more often. ... If a crisis is especially intense, the person may need to be admitted to the hospital for intravenous (IV) fluids and stronger pain medicines to help relieve symptoms (“Sickle Cell,” 2003). Sickle cell anemia is found mostly among African Americans, where an estimated 8-12% carry the sickle cell gene. ... Sickle cell anemia is prevalent in warm climates and areas where Malaria is found, such as Africa, which explains why African Americans have the greatest chance of getting this disease. ... An individual that lives in a Malaria prone region and has the sickle cell allele is more resistant to this disease. Other areas where sickle cell anemia is prevalent are regions of the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. Sickle cell anemia also affects Hispanic Americans, Arabs, Greeks, and Italians (Kail, 1998). In the United States sickle cell anemia is rare, especially among successful generations of African Americans. According to the National Institute of Health, sickle cell anemia affects 72,000 people in the United States.