It is an inherited blood disorder caused by a defective cell called the sickle cell gene.

Effect

• It affects hemoglobin, the molecule in red blood cells that delivers oxygen to cells throughout the body.
• People with this disease have atypical hemoglobin molecules called hemoglobin S, which can distort red blood cells into a sickle, or crescent, shape.

Symptoms

• Early stage: Extreme tiredness or fussiness from anemia, painfully swollen hands and feet, and jaundice.
• Later stage: Severe pain, anemia, organ damage, and infections.

Diagnosis

• Solubility test / Dithionite test
• Hemoglobin electrophoresis
• HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography)
• Genetic testing (for prenatal diagnosis)

Treatments

• The only cure for this disease is bone marrow or stem cell transplantation.

Source: PIB