why is it important to get tested for sickle-cell anemia?

Answer 1

Because sickle cell is inherited from your parents. It occurs in people who have inherited the gene hemoglobin S from both parents. In order to inherit the disease from your parents, each parent must be a carrier for the sickle cell trait. You can also inherit sickle cell anemia if one of your parents is a carrier for the trait and the other parent has sickle cell .

Answer 2

First of all, Sickle Cell Anemia is not an infectious disease. It is a genetic disease that you get from your parents. If your dad has the trait and your mom has the trait then you have a 50% chance of getting the disease. It is important to get tested if you are planning on having children to see if you could possibly pass the disease to your children. Mostly african americans and people of a middle European decent have the trait. If you have sickle cell, your red blood cells "sickle" which mean change to a shape of a half moon. The red cells can't smoothly pass through your blood stream and get caught. This causes pain and swelling. The pain can be so bad the patient will need to be hospitalized. You can also have an increased chance of stroke and be very anemic and need blood transfusions. That is why it is important to get tested for the trait so your child won't have to go through this.

Answer 3

When two people both have sickle cell anemia trait, and they have a baby together, the child almost always has full blown sickle cell anemia (a very painful condition that is eventually fatal).
You can carry the trait on one set of chromosomes (like if your mother had the trait, but your father did not) and not have the disease at all, but if you have a baby with a person who also carries the trait on one set of chromosomes, then it's a really bad life for the little baby who inevitable has the disease.

Hope this helps!

Answer 4

Sickle cell is a hereditary condition that may occur as the “trait” (you carry one mutated gene from one of your parents) or as the disease (you carry two mutated genes, one from each of your parents). The trait usually causes little or no problem but can continue to be passed on to your children. The disease may cause significant clinical problems, called “crises,” throughout life. A crisis is a painful condition brought on by lack of oxygen in the red blood cells, causing them to change shape. They become shaped like a sickle, thus the name of the disease. Infection, dehydration, or change in altitude are among the events that can initiate a crisis.

Hemoglobin in the red blood cells carries oxygen to all parts of the body. In sickle cell anemia, the shape of hemoglobin is altered, and the red blood cells can become rigid, pointy, and sticky. They then can clog blood vessels, causing pain and damage. A low red blood cell count also may occur due to the destruction of these cells (hemolytic anemia). Body organs most likely to be severely affected include the spleen, kidneys, and bone marrow. The eyes and top of the femur (thigh bone) are also at risk because there are few arteries in these areas. The sickle cell abnormality is found predominantly in people of African ancestry but may also be found in those who can trace their roots to the Mediterranean area, South and Central America, the Middle East, India, and the Caribbean.

Newborn screening for sickle cell is performed routinely in most U.S. states and territories. The screen may include several tests: a hemoglobin electrophoresis to identify the specific types of hemoglobin present, measurement of hemoglobin A2 and F (adult and fetal), a complete blood count (CBC) to detect anemia, and a reticulocyte count.

Complications of sickle cell disease may include pain, stroke, increased risk of infection, and leg ulcers. Signs of sickle cell crisis include fever, mild jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes), chest pain and shortness of breath. For a more complete list of both complications and signs of crisis, visit the Sickle Cell Information Center.

There are three types of sickle cell crisis: aplastic, hemolytic, and painful.

Aplastic – This type is due to infections, particularly parvoviruses, and results in a decrease in production of red blood cells. It may be self-limiting in 5-10 days.
Hemolytic – This anemia is more severe, resulting in a sudden increase in the destruction of red blood cells. The bone marrow cannot produce cells fast enough to compensate for the loss, resulting in a critical decrease in hemoglobin and hematocrit. Transfusions are frequently needed to replace the red blood cells. In children, repeated crises could cause an enlarged spleen, which increases the risk of rupture.
Painful – This type is associated with severe pain due to the rigid sickle cells blocking the blood vessels, causing damage to cells and organs. It usually lasts 4-6 days, but may persist for weeks.
Newborns with sickle cell disease are often placed on penicillin to prevent pneumonia and other infections. Adults may be treated with hydroxyurea, which has been found to reduce the number of crises and lessen the severity of those that do occur. Severe crises may also be treated with blood transfusion or exchange transfusion to raise the red blood cell count and reduce the number of sickle cells. Intravenous fluids may be used to maintain normal electrolyte concentrations.

Answer 5

because its hereditary and its real painful... you have to know earlier so u can treat it...