Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Sickle cell disorder and its symptoms

By Darrell Mitchell


Sickle cell is a disorder of the blood that is brought about by inherited abnormal haemoglobin. This inherited abnormal haemoglobin leads to distorted red blood cells, known as sickle cells. The sickle cells are very fragile and rupture easily. It causes anaemia, as soon as the amount of RBC's decreases due to rupture. This situation is generally referred to as sickle cell anaemia. The irregular shape of these sickle cells can also prevent the blood vessels causing tissue and organ damage. Sickle cell anaemia is inherited as an autosomal recessive condition where the sickle cell trait is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. In simple terms, the gene from a parent can be passed on to their children, both male and female.

The signs and signs of sickle cell disorder usually begin in the earlier child years. Some people may have mild signs, While others are frequently hospitalized for more critical difficulties. Main characteristic attributes of sickle cell disorder include Low red blood cell count, periodic episodes of pain and frequent infections.

Common symptoms of sickle cell disorders include

* exhaustion and anaemia: tiredness and anaemia are very common signs in person with sickle cell disorder. Sickle cell anaemia is a chronic form of anaemia which causes severe exhaustion. This is mainly because, the sickle cell RBC's are vulnerable to breakage which eventually decreases the life span of these cells. Alternatively, the bone marrow attempts to develop theses cells rapidly to compensate the destructed cells. Occasionally, bone marrow stops producing RBC, which causes severe form of anaemia.

* Pain: People struggling from sickle cell anaemia causes intermittent agonizing episodes that are a result of inadequate blood supply to tissues. This inadequate blood circulation is due to the blockage of different blood vessels from the sickling of red blood cells.

* Arthritis and Dactylitis: early indicators of sickle cell disorders include inflammation and inflammation of the fingers and/or feet. The swelling around the entire fingers and/or toes is called dactylitis, and it generally happens to young children suffering from sickle cell disease between 6 months to 8 years. Arthritis(Joint inflammation) with pain, inflammation, tenderness and limited range of motion may also accompany Dactylitis

* Bacterial infection: Lung infection, infection of the brain and spinal fluids, bone infection etc are very common in people suffering from sickle cell diseases.

* Splenic sequestration and liver organ congestion: abrupt pooling of blood in the spleen is referred as splenic sequestration. Splenic sequestration may cause anaemia and unexpected death. liver enlargement happens when the liver organ gets congested with red blood cells.

* Leg ulcers: The legs of patient suffering from sickle cell anaemia are vulnerable for skin ulceration. These leg ulcers can become chronic and may not respond to any treatment.

* Aseptic necrosis and Bone infarcts: The inadequate blood supply to the bone tissue prospects to bone death named bone infarction.

* Eye damage: Impairment of the circulation from the sickling of RBC's results in the damage to retina.

Sickle cell anaemia is one type of anaemia and it is an inherited, lifelong disease. People who suffer from this disease are born with it and has no widely available cure.




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