Sickle Cell Anemia

Sickle-Cell Anemia is a hereditary condition in which hemoglobin, an oxygen-carrying protein in the blood, is altered, leading to periodic interruptions in blood circulation. In the United States the disease is found generally in Africa-Americans, of which approximately 1 in 400 are affected; it also occurs in the Middle East and the Mediterranean area. Symptoms of Sickle Cell disease usually begin show up at about six months of age and may include, but are not limited to: …

…families should watch for the following conditions that need an urgent medical evaluation: 1. Fever 2. Chest pain 3. Shortness of Breath 4. Increasing tiredness 5. Abdominal swelling 6. Unusual headache 7. Any sudden weakness or loss of feeling 8. Pain that will not go away with home treatment 9. Priapism (painful erection that will not go down) 10. Sudden vision change Any person especially a child infected with the sickle cell disease is affected in a major way by it even in everyday life.