What is sickle cell disease?

Sickle cell disease, also called sickle cell anemia, is a hereditary problem (which mean it runs in families). It causes a type of faulty hemoglobin in red blood cells. Hemoglobin carries oxygen in the blood. Sickle cell disease commonly affects blacks and Latinos.

Normal red blood cells are disc-shaped and very flexible. In people who have sickle cell disease, some red blood cells can become hard and change shape so that they look like sickles or crescent moons. They don't move well through the smallest blood vessels. This can stop or slow blood flow to parts of the body, causing less oxygen to reach these areas. The sickle cells also die earlier than normal blood cells, which can cause a shortage of red blood cells in the body. For most people, there is no cure for sickle cell disease.

When should I call my child's doctor?

You should call your doctor right away if you or your child has any of these signs:

• Swollen hands or feet
• Sudden paleness of the skin or nail beds
• Yellow color of the skin or eyes
• Fever or signs of infection
• Swelling in the abdomen (tummy)
• Sudden tiredness with no interest in what is going on
• Erection of the penis that won't go away
• Trouble hearing or seeing
• Weakness on one side of the body or a sudden change in speech
• Headache
• Trouble breathing
• Joint, stomach, chest or muscle pain, or limping

How do people get sickle cell disease?

The type of hemoglobin a person makes depends on what traits are inherited from his or her parents, much like hair or eye color is passed on. To get the hemoglobins that causes sickle cell disease, a child must inherit a sickle cell gene from both parents.

A child who inherits 1 normal gene from a parent and 1 sickle cell gene from the other is a "carrier."

A child born to one parent with the trait has a 50% chance of carrying the sickle cell trait and a 0% chance of having sickle cell disease.  A child born to parents who both have the sickle cell trait (but not the disease) has a 50% chance of having the sickle cell trait and a 25% chance of getting the sickle cell disease.  A child born to one parent with the disease and one parent who has the trait has a 50% chance of having sickle cell disease or the sickle cell trait.

Who gets sickle cell disease?

In the United States, sickle cell disease is most common in people who came from, or whose ancestors came from, Africa, Central America (especially Panama), South America, Caribbean nations, Mediterranean countries, India or Near Eastern countries.

How can my doctor tell if I have sickle cell disease?

If you are at risk because of your family history or ethnic group, ask your doctor to check you for sickle cell trait or disease. Your doctor may order a blood test to see if you  have sickle cell disease.

How can my doctor tell if my baby has sickle cell disease?

If you are at risk, ask your doctor to check you and your sexual partner for sickle cell trait or disease before you get pregnant. Then you will know if you might have a child with sickle cell disease. Your doctor might want you to get genetic testing. If you are already pregnant, you might get testing for your fetus.

Most states test newborn babies for sickle cell disease. If your state does not test for it, your doctor can order a special blood test for your baby. This test will show if your baby has sickle cell disease.

How is sickle cell disease treated?

Treatment aims to prevent crises and relieve symptoms. If your child has sickle cell disease, he or she is at risk for some infections, lung problems and pain. Your child may need to take an antibiotic (usually penicillin) to prevent bad infections. Also, certain vitamins, like folic acid, can help your child's body replace damaged blood cells. Your child needs to have all of the recommended shots for children and a few special shots.

Your child will need to see your family doctor often for blood tests and to be checked for damage to internal organs. If your child has pain, fever, weakness or trouble breathing, he or she may need IV (intravenous) fluids (liquids given through a needle placed in your child's vein) and antibiotics. Your child may also need oxygen, blood transfusions and strong pain medicines. Special treatments will be needed if your child has organ damage.

What medicines can I use at home to control my pain?

Some over-the-counter medicines might help relieve mild pain. Taking acetaminophen (one brand name: Tylenol) or aspirin might help. Medicines like ibuprofen (two brand names: Advil, Motrin) or naproxen sodium (brand name: Aleve) might help if you can safely take these medicines. However, talk to your doctor before you take any medicine for your pain.

If you have moderate to severe pain, your doctor might prescribe a prescription pain reliever. Make sure to carefully follow your doctor's instructions for taking the medicine.

What else can I do to control the pain?

A heating pad, hot bath, rest or massage might help. Physical therapy to relax and strengthen your muscles and joints might lessen your pain. Individual counseling, self-hypnosis and activities to keep you from thinking about your pain (such as watching television or talking on the telephone) might also help.

It's important for you to have a positive attitude, create a supportive environment, and develop coping skills to help you deal with the disease. Strong family relationships and close personal friends can be helpful. A support group can also help you cope with the disease.

Work with your family doctor to set goals for coping with pain. Becoming more actively involved in your treatment will help you better manage the disease.

Can sickle cell disease be cured?

Usually, no. But with good care, people who have sickle cell disease can live a mostly normal life. Bone marrow transplants can cure the disease in a small number of people.

What is a sickle cell crisis?

A sickle cell crisis happens when sickled red blood cells block small blood vessels that carry blood to your bones. This causes pain that can begin suddenly and last several hours to several days. You might have pain in your back, knees, legs, arms, chest or stomach. The pain can be throbbing, sharp, dull or stabbing. How often and how bad the pain gets varies a lot from person to person and from crisis to crisis.

You might be able to treat your pain crisis at home with medicines that you take by mouth. If these medicines don't control your pain, or if you can't keep fluids down, you might need to be treated in the emergency department. If your pain still isn't controlled or you have other problems, you might need to be treated in the hospital.

How can I prevent a sickle cell crisis?

Most of the time, you won't know what caused your sickle cell crisis. A crisis usually has more than one cause. However, you can do several things to help keep a crisis from occurring:

• Eat a balanced diet. Your doctor may suggest you also take folic acid supplements to help make new red blood cells.
• Limit how much alcohol you drink.
• Don't smoke. If you do smoke, quit.
• Exercise regularly but not so much that you become really tired. When you exercise, drink lots of fluids.
• Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, especially during warm weather.
• Reduce or avoid stress. Talk to your doctor if you're depressed or have problems at home or at work.
• Treat any infection as soon as it occurs. When in doubt, see your doctor.
• Try not to get too hot, too cold or too tired. Wear warm clothes outside in cold weather and inside in air-conditioned rooms during hot weather. Also, don't swim in cold water.
• Tell your doctor if you think you might have a sleep problem, such as snoring, or if you sometimes stop breathing for short periods of time during sleep (called apnea).
• If you have another medical condition, like diabetes, get treatment and control the condition.
• If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, get early prenatal care.
• Only travel in commercial airplanes. If you have to travel in an unpressurized aircraft, talk to your doctor about extra precautions.

• Am I at risk of sickle cell disease?
• Is there anything I can do to prevent sickle cell disease?
• What are the symptoms of sickle cell disease?
• What should I do if I'm having a sickle cell crisis?
• How can I prevent a sickle cell crisis and other complications?
• Is my child at risk of sickle cell disease?
• Is there a cure for sickle cell disease?