Sickle cell disease is also known as sickle cell anaemia. It is a disorder in the blood and causes numerous complications. This disease is characterized by abnormally shaped red blood cells. These blood cells are sickle in shape hence the name of the disease. The fact that this disease has no cure makes it one of the worst known to man. This leaves us at the analysis of the causes and sickle cell disease prevention.
This terrible disease is caused an occurrence of abnormalities in the genetic composition. A gene mutates among the haemoglobin genes and upsets the equilibrium. This mutation occurs and transforms the nature and shape of the red blood cell. In doing so it thereby limits the ability of cells to absorb oxygen which is much needed by the body. In all this condition starves the body of oxygen and hence complicating organ function.
Sickle cell anaemia is an inherited disease for many. It moves from one generation to the other through genes. It takes two parents with the genes to pass it on. If only one of parents is a carrier of the causing genes then chances are the children will not have it. This disease has various signs and these vary with persons. The symptoms also intensify with time.
Sickle cell anaemia is known to deny its victims the energy needed to go through an average day. The patients are generally weak and they tire very quickly. They cannot involve themselves in any intense activity due to that. Another common sign of this particular anaemia is frequent body aches. This pain is severe in nature and it is felt in no organ in particular. The chest is one of the many organs where this ache is experienced.
Another common symptom of this condition is insufficient blood supply to vital body organs. This happens when the blood veins and arteries get clogged by accumulation of these cells on the cells wall. These cells tend to collect together and stick on the walls of blood vessels. A lot of pain is experienced whenever such incidences occur. Mostly, the shut out organs are the heart, brain, spleen and others.
A number of serious body complications are known to originate from this disorder. This condition makes bacteria to pose a threat to human life. This normally is not the case but with this disorder, the body can hardly defend itself from infections. This is attributed to their generally weak immunity system. A person with sickle cell anaemia is also faced with the risk of experiencing stroke. This is quite a serious problem as the stroke expected here is a silent one.
This condition can however be managed and prevented from causing so much damage. Its treatment commences right since childhood. Sickle cell disease patients are kept under constant observation of pediatrician and haematologist. This is to ensure that they remain in good health conditions. These patients are required to take penicillin and folic for their entire life span.
They are also advised to use anti-malarial treatment frequently. This is because the condition makes them vulnerable to the ailment. Also an attempt is made to control the severe pains using analgesics and opioids at frequent intervals. Eventually the use of blood transfusion and bone marrow transplants for critical cases.
This terrible disease is caused an occurrence of abnormalities in the genetic composition. A gene mutates among the haemoglobin genes and upsets the equilibrium. This mutation occurs and transforms the nature and shape of the red blood cell. In doing so it thereby limits the ability of cells to absorb oxygen which is much needed by the body. In all this condition starves the body of oxygen and hence complicating organ function.
Sickle cell anaemia is an inherited disease for many. It moves from one generation to the other through genes. It takes two parents with the genes to pass it on. If only one of parents is a carrier of the causing genes then chances are the children will not have it. This disease has various signs and these vary with persons. The symptoms also intensify with time.
Sickle cell anaemia is known to deny its victims the energy needed to go through an average day. The patients are generally weak and they tire very quickly. They cannot involve themselves in any intense activity due to that. Another common sign of this particular anaemia is frequent body aches. This pain is severe in nature and it is felt in no organ in particular. The chest is one of the many organs where this ache is experienced.
Another common symptom of this condition is insufficient blood supply to vital body organs. This happens when the blood veins and arteries get clogged by accumulation of these cells on the cells wall. These cells tend to collect together and stick on the walls of blood vessels. A lot of pain is experienced whenever such incidences occur. Mostly, the shut out organs are the heart, brain, spleen and others.
A number of serious body complications are known to originate from this disorder. This condition makes bacteria to pose a threat to human life. This normally is not the case but with this disorder, the body can hardly defend itself from infections. This is attributed to their generally weak immunity system. A person with sickle cell anaemia is also faced with the risk of experiencing stroke. This is quite a serious problem as the stroke expected here is a silent one.
This condition can however be managed and prevented from causing so much damage. Its treatment commences right since childhood. Sickle cell disease patients are kept under constant observation of pediatrician and haematologist. This is to ensure that they remain in good health conditions. These patients are required to take penicillin and folic for their entire life span.
They are also advised to use anti-malarial treatment frequently. This is because the condition makes them vulnerable to the ailment. Also an attempt is made to control the severe pains using analgesics and opioids at frequent intervals. Eventually the use of blood transfusion and bone marrow transplants for critical cases.
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