Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder where red blood cells are abnormally shaped like a crescent or sickle. These misshapen cells can get stuck in blood vessels, causing pain, organ damage, and other serious complications. It affects the flow of oxygen throughout the body.
🔍 Common Symptoms
- Episodes of severe pain (sickle cell crisis)
- Anemia (fatigue, pale skin, shortness of breath)
- Swelling of hands and feet (dactylitis) in children
- Frequent infections
- Delayed growth and puberty
- Vision problems or sudden blindness
🧬 Causes & Risk Factors
- Mutation in the HBB gene affecting hemoglobin structure
- Both parents must carry the sickle cell trait for a child to have the disease
- More common in people of African, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Indian descent
- Triggers for crises: cold temperatures, dehydration, infections, and stress
✅ What To Do Next
- Get genetic counseling if you or a partner carries the trait
- Manage pain crises with hydration, warmth, and pain medications
- Take preventive penicillin and receive all recommended vaccines
- Undergo regular health monitoring (blood counts, organ scans)
- Consider hydroxyurea medication to reduce crises
- Bone marrow transplant may offer a cure in eligible patients