People with the disease are born with two sickle cell genes, one from each parent. If you are born with one sickle cell gene, it's called sickle cell trait. People with sickle cell trait are generally healthy, but they can pass the defective gene on to their children. People with SCD start to have signs of the disease during the first year of life, usually around 5 months of age. Early symptoms of SCD may include. The effects of SCD vary from person to person and can change over time. Most of the signs and symptoms of SCD are related to complications of the disease.
They may include severe pain, anemia, organ damage, and infections. A blood test can show if you have SCD or sickle cell trait. All states now test newborns as part of their screening programs, so treatment can begin early. People who are thinking about having children can have the test to find out how likely it is that their children will have SCD. Doctors can also diagnose SCD before a baby is born. That test uses a sample of amniotic fluid the liquid in the sac surrounding the baby or tissue taken from the placenta the organ that brings oxygen and nutrients to the baby.
The only cure for SCD is bone marrow or stem cell transplantation. Because these transplants are risky and can have serious side effects, they are usually only used in children with severe SCD. For the transplant to work, the bone marrow must be a close match. Usually, the best donor is a brother or sister. To stay as healthy as possible, make sure that you get regular medical care, live a healthy lifestyle, and avoid situations that may set off a pain crisis.
The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.
Resources Find an Expert. What is sickle cell disease SCD? What causes sickle cell disease SCD? Find out how sickle cell disease is treated. Page last reviewed: 16 April Next review due: 16 April Sickle cell disease can cause a wide range of symptoms. The main symptoms are: painful episodes getting infections often anaemia Painful episodes Episodes of pain known as sickle cell crises are one of the most common and distressing symptoms of sickle cell disease.
They happen when blood vessels to part of the body become blocked. The pain can be severe and lasts for up to 7 days on average. A sickle cell crisis often affects a particular part of the body, such as the: hands or feet particularly in young children ribs and breastbone spine pelvis tummy legs and arms How often someone with sickle cell disease gets episodes of pain varies a lot.
Infections People with sickle cell disease are more vulnerable to infections, particularly when they're young. Pain crises are more likely when someone is sick, dehydrated , cold, or stressed. Pain during a sickle cell crisis can happen anywhere in the body, such as the arms, legs, joints, back, or chest. It can come on suddenly, and be mild or severe.
The pain can last for a few hours, a few days, or sometimes longer. If these things don't help, you may need prescription pain medicine. If you are still in pain, call your doctor or go to the ER.
You may need to get stronger medicines and IV fluids in the hospital. Sometimes a pain crisis happens for reasons you can't control, like when you're sick. But to lower your chances of having a crisis, you can:. Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size.
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