Early diagnosis of Sickle Cell Disease and treatment can reduce the risk of complication. Health care providers will recommend necessary tests based on medical history and physical examination.
Here are the various tests and their role in screening and diagnosis of Sickle Cell Disease.
Hemoglobin Electrophoresis Blood test is done to check if you have sickle hemoglobin and if you are a carrier for sickle cell disease.
Genetic testing is used to identify the specific type of sickle…
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There are several types of sickle cell diseases, each characterized by different genetic abnormalities. The main types include: Sickle Cell Anemia (SS): Inherited when a child receives two copies of the sickle cell gene from both parents. Common in African and Indian populations. Sickle Hemoglobin-C Disease (SC): Combines hemoglobin C and S. Similar symptoms to sickle cell anemia but less anemia. Common in West African, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern populations. Sickle Beta-Plus…
Each person with Sickle Cell Disease may experience symptoms differently. List of symptoms include: Fatigue and weakness – Sickle cells have short life and less oxygen carrying capacity compare to normal red blood cells. This can lead to severe anemia, shortness of breath and dizziness. Pain crisis –When sickle cells get stuck in blood vessels due to their sticky property, they block the blood flow. This can result in pain crisis. Generally, pain occurs in chest, arms and legs.…
Causes of Sickle Cell Disease Sickle cell disease is caused by defect in gene and it is passed down from parents to children. The mutations in the beta globin genes affect the structure of hemoglobin molecule (also called as Hemoglobin S.), causing it to form abnormal "sickle" shapes. Figure 2 – How sickle cell disease is inherited? A child will be born with sickle cell disease only if two genes…
Sickle cell disease is an inherited disorder that leads to abnormal hemoglobin. All red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which carries oxygen throughout our body. Normal and healthy red blood cells are round in shape and move through small blood vessels to carry oxygen to all parts of the body. In sickle cell disease, abnormal hemoglobin causes the red blood cells to become sticky and hard and look like a C- shape called “sickle”. Due to this shape and sticky nature, it gets stuck in the…
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