How Is Sickle Cell Disease Inherited?

What is Sickle Cell Disease?

Sickle cell disease, also known as sickle cell anemia, is an inherited blood disorder. According to the Mayo Clinic, sickle cell anemia is "a condition in which there aren't enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen throughout your body." Unfortunately, there is no cure for sickle cell anemia, but there are prescription medications your doctor can give you to manage your symptoms of body pain, infections, jaundice and vision problems.

How Do People Get Sickle Cell Disease?

Sickle cell disease occurs in patients who have an irregular hemoglobin, which causes blood cells to become distorted. The shape of the cells appears a sickle; hence, the name "sickle cell disease." Sickled blood cells are more delicate than normal, doughnut-shaped blood cells. This causes the sickle-shaped cells to rupture, causing anemia. The hemoglobin abnormality is an autosomal recessive condition, meaning that parents can pass the disease to male and female children. Sickle cell anemia can also be inherited from someone who carries a sickle cell trait but doesn't have the disease itself. As of 2009, sickle cell disease affected approximately 8 percent of the African-American population--and if two sickle cell trait carriers had a child, this child had a one in four chance of developing sickle cell anemia.

How to Treat Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease can't be cured, but it can be managed with the help of your doctor. Taking an antibiotic such as penicillin from the age of 2 to 5 prevents early onset infections from occurring. Over-the-counter pain medications including acetaminophen and ibuprofen can prevent any pain associated with the disease. In extreme cases, Hydroxyurea is given to prevent the need for blood transfusions. If this fails to work, a blood transfusion is necessary to replenish the amount of healthy cells in the blood.

References

• Medicine Net: Sickle Cell Disease
• Mayo Clinic: Sickle Cell Anemia

Resources

• Pregnancy Info: Sickle Cell Anemia