Google
Trusted Resources: Evidence & Education
Scientific literature and patient education texts
What is Sickle Cell Disease?
source: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
year: 2020
summary/abstract:Sickle cell disease is a group of inherited red blood cells disorders. People who have sickle cell disease have an abnormal protein in their red blood cells. In the United States, most people who have sickle cell disease are of African ancestry, but the condition is also common in people with a Hispanic background. Because the disease runs in families, couples planning to have children can have genetic testing.
Early signs and symptoms of sickle cell disease include swelling of the hands and feet; symptoms of anemia, including fatigue, or extreme tiredness; and jaundice. Over time, sickle cell disease can lead to complications such as infections, delayed growth, and episodes of pain, called pain crises. Most children who have sickle cell disease are pain-free between crises, but adolescents and adults may also suffer with chronic, ongoing pain. Over a lifetime, sickle cell disease can harm a patient’s spleen, brain, eyes, lungs, liver, heart, kidneys, penis, joints, bones, or skin.
read more
+myBinderRelated Content
-
Indiana Sickle Cell Conference 2020 – VirtualThis one-day conference will provide hel...
-
Diving into the genetics of Sickle cell diseaseIn recent years, genetics has become a h...
-
Ask Dr. Kevin: Understanding Sickle Cell Disease"Ask Dr. Kevin” is a new feature broug...
-
Sickle Cell Disease and Its Toll Compared in Different Age Groups in StudyDifferences in comorbidities, pain, heal...
-
The Ways I Made Hydration a HabitWhen I was younger and didn’t have a f...
-
Sickle Cell Disease: After Years of Neglect Some Promise for SufferersIt’s Black History Month, when the nat...
-
Sickle Cell Disease isn’t Laughable, But It Has a Comedic Ambassador — Kier “Junior” SpatesMr. Spates believes in living a full lif...
To improve your experience on this site, we use cookies. This includes cookies essential for the basic functioning of our website, cookies for analytics purposes, and cookies enabling us to personalize site content. By clicking on 'Accept' or any content on this site, you agree that cookies can be placed. You may adjust your browser's cookie settings to suit your preferences. More Information
The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.
Powered by
Support for this site is provided by
This platform is made possible through a partnership with the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc. (SCDAA) and its member organizations. SCDAA's mission is to advocate for people affected by sickle cell conditions and empower community-based organizations to maximize quality of life and raise public consciousness while advancing the search for a universal cure.