Griffin+Streicher

= = = Sickle Cells Anemia =

Description of Disease:
====Sickle cell disease is a is an autosomal recessive genetic blood disorder with over dominance characterized by red blood cells that assume an abnormal, rigid, sickle shape. Sickling decreases the cells' flexibility and results in a risk of various complications. The sickling occurs because of a mutation in the hemoglobin gene. This disease occurs more commonly in African Americans the individuals are typically tired, anemic, have cramps, and headaches. ====

Symptoms:
====General Symptoms in Infants: In infants or new borns, symptoms of this disease typically do not appear until later in the baby's first year of life. Most commonly, they include: ====
 * ====Fever ====
 * ====Swelling of the hands and feet ====
 * ====Pain in the chest, abdomen, limbs, and joints ====
 * ====Nosebleeds and frequent upper respiratory infections ====

====General Symptoms in Children: Pain is the most common complaint. It can be acute and severe or chronic, usually from orthopedic problems in the legs and low back. Other symptoms include: ====
 * ====Fatigue and shortness of breath (signs of anemia) ====
 * ====Irritability ====
 * ====Jaundice (yellowish discoloration of the skin and eyes) ====

==== Additional Symptoms in Teenage to Adulthood years: Symptoms of childhood continue to show up in adolescence and adulthood. Patients at this age may experience these symptoms: ====
 * ====Delayed puberty (in young teenagers) ====
 * ====Severe joint pain ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Progressive anemia ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Leg sores ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Gum disease ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Vision problems ====

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Common Treatments:
====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 1.066em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5;">Children with sickle cell anemia at a young age typically from ages of 2 months to five years old begin taking antibiotic penicillin. This drug helps prevent infections, such as pneumonia, which can be life-threatening to an infant or child with sickle cell anemia. To relieve pain during a sickle crisis, your doctor may advise over-the-counter pain relievers and application of heat to the affected area. You may also need stronger prescription pain medication. Hydroxyurea (Droxia, Hydrea) this drug is taken daily, and is the most used to help treat the disease it reduces the frequency of painful crises and may reduce the need for blood transfusions. its a typical option for adults with severe disease. Treatment for mild-to-moderate pain usually begins with acetaminophen Tylenol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen. ====

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Side affects of the disease:
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 1.066em; line-height: 1.5;">This Disease can cause many problems so you need to watch out for these side affects:
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Delayed growth: Anemia slows the rate of growth because the body's cells don't get the oxygen they need to grow. Children and adults with sickle cell anemia often have a smaller build than other people of the same age. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Eye problems: The eye can be damaged by the lack of oxygen; it can be serious enough to cause blindness. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Infections: People with sickle cell anemia are more vulnerable to infections because of damage to their immune systems from the disease. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Stroke: If the blood flow to a part of the brain is blocked by the sickled cells, a stroke can occur. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Acute chest syndrome: Chest pain and fever caused by sickle cell anemia can become a life-threatening complication. ====

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">How to Prevent or control the disease:
====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">There are no real prevention's that hold back the carrier of the Sickle Cell Anemia. with the medication and the new technology we have found to help prevent and control this disease more and more patients are living longer lives. ====

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">How is Sickle Cell Anemia Inherited:
<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: medium;">This condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, this means both copies of the gene in each cell have mutations. The parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive condition each carry one copy of the mutated gene, but they typically do not show signs and symptoms of the condition.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: medium;">Works Cited:
Pub, Med. "PubMed Health." // PubMedHelath.com //. N.p., 20 Jan 2010. Web. 7 Feb 2012. [] Clinic Staff, Mayo. // Sickle Cell Anemia //. N.p., 2 Aug 2010. Web. 26 Mar 2011. [|http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sickle-cell-anemia/DS00324/DSECTION=prevent"ion] Us, Lib. "Us library of Medicine." //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;">Sickle Cell Disease // . N.p., 2 Aug 2012. Web. 4 Feb 2013. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 1.066em; line-height: 1.5;">[]