Sickle Cell Anemia Essay

Sickle cell anemia affects millions of people around the world, with about 70,000 Americans inheriting the disease, and many others carrying the sickle cell trait (Genetics). This disease mostly affects people that have African and Mediterranean roots, mostly because this disease provides protection for people from malaria which kills 3,000 African children daily (Malaria). Malaria is a deadly infectious disease that is transmitted by to humans when mosquitoes sting them (Learn). Sickle cell anemia is the most common blood disorder that is a result of a mutation in the genes causing a mutated form of hemoglobin, the protein that helps red blood cells transport oxygen to the body from the lungs. The mutated form of hemoglobin, hemoglobin S, causes the red blood cells to alter their shape into a fragile crescent or sickle shape, which is the main cause for any negative effects a person with sickle cell anemia might have.

Hemoglobin S is an autosomal recessive mutation which means that a person must have two copies of the mutation in order for the disease to occur in the body (Maakaron). If a person carries one copy of the sickle cell trait, they will not have sickle cell anemia and will most likely not experience any negative effects. The children of someone carrying a sickle cell trait can inherit the gene and develop the disease if the other parent passes down another sickle cell trait. There is a twenty five percent chance of inheriting sickle cell anemia if both parents have just one sickle cell trait (Sickle Cell Anaemia).

Sickle cell anemia is a type of sickle cell disease that results in chronic anemia. Chronic anemia occurs when the body has less than the normal amount of red blood cells. This causes the body to be suppl...

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...olysis, myelosclerosis, articular disintegration and osteonecrosis. The skull can decrease in density and thickness,and osteoporosis can occur when the medullary cavities in the bone widen and the skeletal tissue weakens. Along with all the above stated problems, the bones can shorten, or become deformed (Maakaron).

Sickle cell anemia is a devastating illness that affects people of all ages. Although the the life expectancy of people with sickle cell anemia is shorter than most, most people are now able to survive into their 40's. The most common causes for death are bacterial infections, organ failure or stroke (Lerma). All of the symptoms have methods in which they can be managed, but there is no cure to this disease. The best way to avoid sickle cell disease to prevent the disease. Using genetic counseling the chances of having sickle cell disease can be reduced.