© 2025 RIOMED LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | WWW.RIOMED.COM
ISO 9001 | ISO 14001 | ISO 27001 | Cyber Essentials
Help Others Discover – Click to Share!
Kate, a young girl, loves to join her friends in their endless games. But there are days when she can’t keep up, not because she doesn’t want to, but because her body doesn’t allow her. On these days, she is bedridden and battles extreme pain that seems to come out of nowhere.
Kate has sickle cell anaemia, a hereditary blood disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. Though it’s a well known condition, there are still many misconceptions regarding its symptoms, complications, diagnosis and how its treated and managed.
Read the blog to understand the condition better.
Sickle Cell Anaemia is a type of inherited blood disorder known as the Sickle Cell Disease. It affects the red blood cells which are usually round and flexible, so they can move easily through blood vessels.
But, in this condition, some red blood cells are shaped like sickles or crescent moons and these cells are hard and sticky. They stop the normal red blood cells from doing their job, which is to carry oxygen throughout the body.
Sickled cells don’t live as long as the normal red blood cells and hence the body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells. This causes anaemia, the condition that gives sickle cell anaemia its name. Anaemia is a lack of heathy red blood cells or haemoglobin.
This condition is caused when the gene that tells the body to make haemoglobin, is changed. Haemoglobin is the iron-rich compound in red blood cells that allows the cells to carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. The haemoglobin linked with the sickle cell anaemia causes red blood cells to become hard and sticky.
People with sickle cell anaemia inherit the disease from their biological parents. People who inherit the changed protein gene from both the biological parents, have the sickle cell anaemia. People who inherit the changed gene from either one of the biological parents have the sickle cell trait.
Symptoms of this condition show up at a young age. They appear in babies at around 6 months of age. The symptoms can differ from person to person and may also change over time.
Symptoms include:
Sickle Cell Anaemia can lead to various complications such as:
Some other complications are – acute chest syndrome, pulmonary hypertension, gallstones, detached retinas, and chronic kidney diseases.
Sickle cell anaemia is usually diagnosed at the age of four to six months. The diagnosis is done through blood tests such as:
Sickle cell disease has an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. A child inherits a copy of the sickle cell gene from both the parents. This occurs when both parents are carriers of the sickle cell gene, mostly known as having the sickle cell trait. Or it can happen when 1 parent has sickle cell disease and the other is a carrier of it.
Individuals with only one sickle cell gene are typically healthy but can pass the gene to their offspring.
How is the Sickle Cell Anaemia Treated and Managed?
While currently there is no cure for sickle cell diseases including sickle cell anaemia, various treatments and management can help alleviate symptoms and prevent complications. Management of sickle cell anaemia is aimed at avoiding pain episodes, relieving symptoms, and preventing complications. Treatments and management include-
Understanding sickle cell anaemia is very important for supporting people who live with it. From recognising the symptoms to knowing how it’s inherited, knowledge is power. With continuous research and advances in medical care, the life of sickle cell anaemia patients have improved. By promoting awareness and support within our communities, we can help the people affected by this condition live healthier and happier lives.
Disclaimer: Please note that the information is strictly for informative purposes. It is not intended to be used in lieu of professional medical advice, inclusive of diagnosis or treatment. It is strongly advised that you seek a doctor’s medical advice on any treatment or medical condition that you learn about.
Recent Blogs
Autosomal: Refers to the chromosomes that are not involved in determining sex. Recessive: Means that two copies of the abnormal gene must be present for the disease to manifest. If an individual has only one copy of the recessive gene, they are considered a carrier but do not typically show symptoms of the disease.
Hence, Autosomal Recessive Inheritance simply means that the individual inherited the genes of the sickle cell anaemia from both the parents.
Spleen is an organ located at the upper left part of the abdomen, just under the rib and is a part of the lymphatic and blood systems. The spleen has some important functions: it fights invading germs in the blood, it controls the level of blood cells (white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets) and it filters the blood and removes any old or damaged red blood cells.
Disclaimer: Please note that the information is strictly for informative purposes. It is not intended to be used in lieu of professional medical advice, inclusive of diagnosis or treatment. It is strongly advised that you seek a doctor’s medical advice on any treatment or medical condition that you learn about.
Never Miss an Important Update!!!
Enter your email address to receive periodic updates about RioMed’s events and initiatives.
© 2025 RIOMED LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | WWW.RIOMED.COM
ISO 9001 | ISO 14001 | ISO 27001 | Cyber Essentials