Sickle Cell Anemia. Student Presentation
- 1. Sickle Cell Anemia By:Detroit Students
- 2. The Reason WHY! • The reason why we chose this topic is because it seemed interesting. A lot of people are confused by sickle cell anemia. We wanted to really know what it was and what it will do to our body and if you can catch it from other people.
- 3. What is the Sickle Cell? Sickle cell disease is an inherited disorder that affects red blood cells. Sickle cell disease affects more than 72,000 Americans. It mostly affects African descent, but also those of Arabian, Asian, Caribbean, Indian, Mediterranean, and South and Central American ancestry.
- 4. Symptoms • The signs and symptoms of sickle cell anemia vary. Some people have mild symptoms. Others have very severe symptoms and often are hospitalized for treatment. • Sickle cell anemia is present at birth, but many infants don't show any signs until after 4 months of age. • The most common signs and symptoms are linked to anemia and pain. Other signs and symptoms are linked to the disease's complications. Signs and Symptoms Related to Anemia • The most common symptom of anemia is fatigue (feeling tired or weak). Other signs and symptoms of anemia may include: • Shortness of breath • Dizziness • Headaches • Coldness in the hands and feet • Paler than normal skin or mucous membranes (the tissue that lines your nose, mouth, and other organs and body cavities) • Jaundice (a yellowish color of the skin or whites of the eyes)
- 5. How Common is the Trait? The trait of Sickle Cell is very common. The most common types of sickle cell disease are SS, SC and S beta thalassemia. Sickle cell trait (also known as being a carrier) occurs when a person has one gene for sickle hemoglobin and one gene for normal hemoglobin.
- 6. What is Hemoglobin? Hemoglobin is found in all red blood cells and carries oxygen from the lungs to tissues and organs throughout the body. Normal red blood cells are soft, smooth, round and can move easily through the body. When affected by sickle cell disease, the red blood cells become rigid, sticky, and sickle shaped. This results in periodic plugging of blood vessels, thereby preventing delivery of oxygen to tissues and organs.
- 7. Differences • Sickle Cells • Red Blood Cells
- 8. How this Trait is Inherited • Like height and eye color, a person inherits genes that produce hemoglobin from each parent. It is important to identify people who are carriers of an abnormal hemoglobin so they will be aware of their risk of having children with sickle cell disease. If both parents are carriers of sickle cell trait or another hemoglobin change (like hemoglobin C), there is a 25% (or 1 in 4) chance that they will have a child with sickle cell disease. The couple also has a 25% chance of having a child with regular hemoglobin (AA) and a 50% chance of having a child with a hemoglobin trait like the parents. It is recommended that people who carry a hemoglobin trait meet with a genetic counselor to obtain more information.