Sickle cell anemia is one of the widespread hereditary diseases that affects more than 20 million people worldwide. Therefore, you must be careful to visit a doctor in case of doubt, or to notice any of the symptoms that we will learn about during this article, to ensure obtaining the appropriate treatment program early, and to avoid the occurrence of serious complications that may cause motor or visual disabilities. What is فقر الدم المنجلي؟ وهل حامل الأنيميا المنجلية يستطيع الزواج؟ إليك التفاصيل حول “حامل الأنيميا المنجلية والزواج”

What is sickle cell anemia?

Sickle cell anemia is known in English as Sickle cell disease, and it is one of the genetic diseases that affects blood hemoglobin, which is the protein responsible for carrying oxygen to the body's cells, thus causing a lack of blood flow to the tissues.

Symptoms of sickle cell anemia

Symptoms of sickle cell anemia may vary from one person to another, and can be mild or severe.

Symptoms of sickle cell anemia include the following:

• Anemia: –

It is the most common symptom of this disease, and is caused by a lack of red blood cells. Severe anemia can make you feel the following: –

• الدوار.
• ضيق التنفس.
• التعب.

Jaundice is one of the symptoms of sickle cell anemia: –

Jaundice (yellowing of the skin, eyes, and mouth) is a common symptom, and is caused by the bilirubin (yellow color) substance that sickle cells release when they die.

• Pain:-

The movement of sickle cells through small blood vessels prevents blood flow, which leads to tissue death and pain. 

You may feel pain as follows: -

• Your arms.
• Your legs.
• Your back.
• Your chest.

Acute chest syndrome: –

This condition occurs when sickle cells stick together and block the flow of oxygen in the small vessels in the lungs.

Symptoms of this condition may look like pneumonia, and include the following: –

• الألم.
• Severe cough.
• الحمى.

Swelling of the hands and feet is a symptom of sickle cell anemia: –

This symptom occurs when sickle cells get stuck in blood vessels, blocking blood flow to the hands and feet.

• Spleen entrapment: –

The spleen becomes enlarged and painful when sickle cells there malfunction and red blood cells are less able to move.

• Excessive fatigue: –

Excessive fatigue is one of the most common and difficult symptoms of sickle anemia, and is caused by a lack of oxygen.

Symptoms of sickle cell anemia in children

Doctors usually diagnose sickle cell anemia at birth, during routine examinations of newborns.

But sickle cell anemia symptoms begin to appear during the first year of life, usually at five or six months of age.

Symptoms include the following

Anemia, its symptoms include the following: –

• ضيق التنفس.
• Poor attention.
• الدوار.
• شحوب الجلد.
• Extreme fatigue.
• Recurrent infections.
• Swelling of the hand and foot.
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).
• الحمى.
• Acute chest syndrome.
• Splenic entrapment.

What are the causes of sickle cell anemia?

Sickle cell anemia occurs for genetic reasons when two recessive genes from the father and mother combine, resulting in the production of hemoglobin in crescent or sickle shapes. 

Sickle cell anemia and marriage

The main problem in the relationship between sickle cell anemia, pregnancy, and marriage lies in the possibility of children contracting the same disease when the two recessive genes come together in the child, which is a 25% probability of occurrence if the parents are carriers of the affected gene.

The possibility of inheriting the disease increases if one of the parents has sickle cell anemia.

What is the difference between sickle cell anemia and thalassemia?

Both thalassemia and sickle cell anemia are similar in that they are hereditary diseases transmitted from parents to children, but they differ in the following:

• Shape of red blood cells: In sickle cell anemia, red blood cells take on crescent shapes.
• Absence of hemoglobin: Red blood cells in thalassemia do not contain the genetic pigment hemoglobin, and therefore are unable to carry oxygen to the body's cells.

How can sickle cell anemia be treated?

There are various therapeutic methods for sickle cell anemia, including: 

• Bone marrow transplant: Bone marrow transplantation is one of the most important and effective treatment methods for sickle cell anemia patients, especially children.
• Medications to prevent red blood cells from turning crescent-shaped or sickle-shaped: Voxelotor treats sickle cell anemia in children and adults over the age of 4 years.
• Medications to avoid vascular disease and chronic pain: Crizanlizumab-tmca is used to treat sickle cell anemia in children and adults over the age of 16 years, after it has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
• transfusion: The doctor may resort to a blood transfusion method to prevent serious complications, reduce the possibility of clots, and increase the rate of blood flow to the body's tissues.
• العلاج الجيني: Newer methods have been developed as an effective treatment for sickle cell anemia and are not yet widely available.

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What are the complications of sickle cell anemia?

Complications of sickle cell anemia vary from one person to another depending on how quickly the disease is discovered and undergoing treatment, and examples include the following: 

• Bone necrosis: Sickle cell anemia causes insufficient blood flow to the bone tissue, so it does not receive the necessary oxygen, which leads to the death of the bone tissue (Avascular Necrosis). 
• coagulation: A person with sickle cell anemia becomes more susceptible to blood clots, especially deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the leg, thigh, and pelvis, and may travel to the heart and lungs, causing more serious complications. 
• Swelling of extremities: Swelling of the hands and feet occurs as a result of sickle cells obstructing blood flow to the extremities, and is usually accompanied by a high temperature. 
• Kidney problems: Sickle cells affect the flow of oxygenated blood to nourish the kidneys, increasing the possibility of kidney disease, including kidney failure.  
• Foot ulcer: The possibility of foot ulcers increases due to poor blood flow to the extremities.
• Liver disease: Sickle cells may cause liver failure, due to difficulty in obtaining the blood supply necessary to nourish it and perform its functions. 
• Pulmonary hypertension: People with sickle cell anemia are more likely to develop pulmonary hypertension, which may cause death if not treated early.
• السكتة الدماغية: Statistics indicate that 10% of children with sickle cell anemia are likely to suffer strokes during their early years. 
• Vision loss: Sickle cells may obstruct blood flow to the veins of the eye and thus may cause vision loss.

Therefore, early detection plays a major role in controlling symptoms and preventing any of the previous complications from occurring. 

How can sickle cell anemia be diagnosed?

There are many methods used to determine whether a person is infected with or a carrier of sickle cell anemia, and the most important tests used to determine the diagnosis are the following: 

• اختبارات الدم: Blood tests are one of the steps in the medical protocol for diagnosing sickle cell anemia, by examining the shape of red blood cells and confirming the possibility of symptoms of the disease. 
• Genetic tests: Genetic testing may help determine if a person carries the gene that causes sickle cell anemia.  
• Comprehensive prenatal examination: This test is used to diagnose whether the fetus has sickle cell anemia by taking a sample of either amniotic fluid, or tissue taken from the placenta. 
• Newborn screening: It is a test performed within the first 72 hours after birth to determine whether the child is infected with the disease or carries the gene that causes sickle cell anemia, provided that a second blood test is conducted to confirm the diagnosis. 

Frequently asked questions

Does a CBC test detect sickle cell anemia? 

Yes, a comprehensive blood count (CBC) may be used to diagnose sickle cell anemia in parallel with genetic analyzes and other medical tests, to ensure obtaining an accurate diagnosis to begin the treatment journey.

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Doctors stress the need to follow the following tips to live healthily with sickle cell anemia: 

• Drink sufficient amounts of water, especially in summer and hot climates, to avoid dehydration, which makes symptoms worse. 
• Do not practice violent sports, or exert excessive effort to avoid stress.
• Avoid exposure to high temperatures, to avoid any complications. 
• Visit the doctor periodically, at least once every 3 months, to conduct a medical examination and ensure that there are no health problems. 
• Measure blood pressure regularly, and ensure that it remains within normal levels. 
• Deal with stress in a healthy way, and relax to avoid worsening symptoms. 
• Make sure to take the necessary vaccinations on time, to strengthen the body’s immunity and avoid infection. 
• Take the medications prescribed by the doctor on time, to control symptoms and avoid complications. 

What is forbidden food for patients with sickle cell anemia?

There are no special eating requirements for patients with sickle cell anemia, but we offer you a set of tips that help maintain health, such as: 

• Avoid eating saturated fats and fast food.
• Diversify your intake of vegetables and fruits to obtain the nutrients necessary for building the body and resisting diseases.
• Avoid drinking too much tea and coffee as they contain compounds that hinder iron absorption. 
• Excessive consumption of calcium-rich foods, such as milk, yogurt, and cheese, hinders the absorption of iron.

To ensure obtaining the necessary nutritional values, and to enhance the general health of the body, you can consult a nutritionist, to design systems that suit and achieve maximum benefit. 

In conclusion, in the event of sickle cell anemia, do not worry, as it is possible to live with it normally provided that you follow the advice and instructions that we discussed throughout the article, which include visiting the doctor periodically and taking prescribed medications on time to reduce the risk of complications. You can also visit us to learn more about Our services And our offers.

Sources and references 

Sickle Cell Anemia