Sickle Cell Anemia, also known as Sickle Cell Disease(SCD), is a genetic blood disease that affects the red blood cells(RBCs) that carry oxygen throughout your body. Instead of round, flexible RBCs, people with SCD also have crescent or sickle-shaped, rigid & sticky RBCs that get stuck in blood vessels, slowing or blocking blood from getting to different body parts.

The four main types of Sickle Cell Anemia depend on the mutation of genes inherited from your parents. Both parents must have & pass down one copy, each, of the mutated sickle cell gene for a child to have SCD, if only one parent passes the gene, the child will have the sickle cell trait. People with the sickle cell trait are carriers of SCD & usually do not have any symptoms, however, they can pass the gene to their children. Most people affected with Sickle Cell Anemia are of African, Middle Eastern, & Mediterranean descent.

Symptoms can start as early as 4 months of age, but usually around 6 months of age. Babies will experience fussiness/irritability and fevers, people with Sickle Cell Anemia experience frequent infections, severe fatigue, pain crises(periodic episodes of extreme pain), anemia, swelling of the hands & feet, problems with their vision, and delayed growth/puberty.

Although there is no cure for SCD, there are treatment options such as IV therapy, medications for prevention & pain, bone marrow or stem cell transplants, blood transfusions, & proper nutrition.

If you or your child has Sickle Cell Anemia and you would like to consult one of the many doctors online or if you are concerned about passing the sickle cell trait, please contact our online doctors now at www.secondopinions.com.

At www.secondopinions.com you will receive a medical second opinion from one of our many board certified & licensed doctors online in just a matter of days, depending on doctor availability and complexity of your study.