Sickle+Cell+Anemia

What Are The Symptons of Sickle Cell Anemia? The symptons of Sickle Cell Anemia start to come into affect after you turn four months old. Once you turn 4 months old, you can have what is called crises. That is when you have very painful side effects to the disease. Crises can last for hours to days depending on how bad the crises is. The crises can affect the back bones, long bones, and chest bones. The most common symptons that affect people with the diesease are abdominal pain, back pain, breathlessness, delayed growth, fatigue, fever, paleness, rapid heart rate, ulcers, and yellowing of the eyes skins. Some less common symptons that only affect some people with the disease are chest pain, excessive thirst, frequent urination, poor eyesight, blindness, and strokes.

What Are The Causes of Sickle Cell Anemia?

Since Sickle Cell Anemia is genetic, it comes from your family. So, if you have it in your family, there is a good chance that you will have it too. The way you get it is if you have the Sickle Cell Trait. That is a gene that causes you to have this disease. Once that is in your genes, you can give it to your kids depending on your spouse's genes. A Sickle Cell mixes in with the red blood cells to give the disease. Instead of being round, the cells are shaped like a crescent. They carry the disease's traits and have a good chance of giving them to, especially if you have a lot. Also, the trait is dominant so if, for example, your mom has it and your dad doesnt, you still have a good chance of getting it.

What Are The Treatments of Sickle Cell Anemia?

People with Sickle Cell Anemia always have to have treatment for their symptons. Even if they are not in pain at the time they still have to do it. Since there is no real cure for the disease, the treatment is just to relieve the patient of their pain. During crises is where must people with the disease take their treatment. The treatment during crises is pain killers and drinking lots of fluids. One of the best relief is Hydoxyurea. It is a drug used to reduce the number of crises they have. In the past, patients died of organ failure at around 20-40. Now, thanks to scientists studies, patients can live well into their 50's. The relief is continuing to get better and hopefully soon they will find a cure.

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By, Matt Timpone Period 4