Sickle Cell Disease Research Paper

Sickle Cell Disease There are many different types of hereditary diseases that affect people’s lives every day. One of them being sickle cell disease. Sickle cell disease or sickle cell anemia “is the result of abnormal hemoglobin” (Bloom 3). Hemoglobin is the “oxygen-carrying molecule of the red blood cell” (Bloom 3). In sickle cell disease, the red blood cells take shape of a crescent moon, leading to lifelong health problems. Sickle cell disease is an obstacle for thousands of people’s lives. A large quantity of sickle cell disease cases are among blacks, “both in Africa and in countries with a slave-trading history” (Bloom 22). According to 1993 studies, “over 50,000 African Americans have sickle cell disease” (Bloom 22). About one in …show more content…
They can range from mild to severe for some people. Some of the symptoms include bone pain, anemia, chronic pain, infections, and pain in the chest and abdomen (Maakaron). The marrow part in bones is constantly active because destroyed blood cells must be replaced. Since these blood cells are crescent shaped, they get clogged in tiny openings in sponge-like parts of the bone (Bloom 51). This then leads to bone and joint pain. Anemia is a problem for most people with this disease. “When red blood cells become sickled, they are destroyed” which means there are fewer blood cells in the body (Bloom 57). The bone marrow must then have to accelerate its production to replace these destroyed cells and may not be able to keep up with the demand, which then the marrow is damaged (Blood 57). With the lack of blood also comes vulnerability to infections. Particularly, Streptococcus pneumonia possess the greatest danger to children (Maakaron). In adults, mostly Salmonella. People with sickle cell disease have to endure the constant pain. The symptoms are not just physical effects, but psychological effects too, especially in small children. Children with the disease “must separate from their families during hospital stays and fear they are being abandoned” (Bloom 62). “Sickle cell children and adolescents may have low self-esteem” due to differences they see among their peers (Bloom 62). Some may suffer from depression and …show more content…
Today it is now 42 for men and 48 for women (Bloom 47). Throughout the years technology and science has improved as well as the treatments for people. Though the understanding of the disease has increased, there is still no cure for sickle cell anemia. People diagnosed with the disease at birth have to take immunizations to prevent infections. Some include Pneumococcus, Influenza and Meningococcus. Once taken at birth, they have to retake it every 5 years. When people with the disease have severe anemia they usually need a blood transfusion (Natl. Inst. of Hlth). A transfusion helps raise the number of normal red blood cells which decreases the blockage in blood vessels (Natl. Inst. of Hlth). When people have constant pain in the chest, they may receive antibiotics, oxygen therapy and a blood transfusion. They will also have to take hydroxyurea daily. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is currently the only “cure” there is for sickle cell disease. This treatment involves getting normal stem cells from a donor. Then the person with the disease, his or her marrow stem cells are destroyed with drugs, consumed by the person. The normal stem cells are then injected into the person’s vein. Later, “the new stem cells will make red cells that do not sickle” (Natl. Inst. of Hlth). There are not many treatments, but so far people with sickle cell disease have lived