What Is Sickle Cell Disease?
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited group of blood disorders that alter the blood's ability to deliver oxygen to other organs and cells throughout the body. If the blood cannot deliver oxygen properly to the body, a host of medical problems can occur.
Normally, red blood cells are somewhat round and move easily through your veins to deliver oxygen in the body, using a substance in the cells called hemoglobin.
SCD alters the oxygen-carrying hemoglobin, causing it to form long, hard, sticky rods within the red blood cell. These cells—shaped like the "sickles" used to cut wheat—can clog to form blockages in veins and arteries. Sickle cells have trouble delivering the maximum amount of oxygen to the body, resulting in a "low blood count", a condition known as anemia.
Some of the problems that can occur when sickle cells are present in the blood are:
- tissue destruction
- fatigue
- bone damage
- severe joint pain
- infections
- strokes
- seizures
- poor growth development.
- low blood count (anemia)
As you can see from the list of complications associated with SCD, is vitally important that at-risk people (primarily people of color) get regular screenings for SCD. A simple blood test called hemoglobin electrophoresis can tell if you are a carrier of the sickle cell trait (gene), or if you actually have the disease. Many hospitals elect to use this test on newborns for the earliest possible detection of SCD.
SCD is an inherited disease. Either one or both parents might carry the sickle cell gene and pass it along to their offspring. SCD cannot be contracted any other way; meaning: sickle cell disease is NOT a contagious disease.
It is very important to remember that SCD is not untreatable—rather, it is a unique and difficult medical condition that can be managed with complete, comprehensive and proper care.
The kind of care you will find here at the Sickle Cell Society, Inc.