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- Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disease. That means you are born with it and it lasts a lifetime.
- People with sickle cell anemia inherit two variant or sickle cell genes, one from each parent.
- In the United States, sickle cell anemia affects about 72,000 people. The families of most of the people affected come from Africa.
- About 2 million Americans carry the sickle cell trait. About 1 in 12 African Americans have the trait.
- The signs and symptoms of sickle cell anemia are different in each person. Some people have mild symptoms. Others have very severe symptoms and are often hospitalized for treatment.
- Painful crises are the leading cause of emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
- Infection is a major complication of sickle cell anemia. In fact, pneumonia is the leading cause of death in children with the disease.
- Screening tests are done on newborn infants in most States. These tests can show if the newborn infant has sickle cell anemia or carries the sickle cell trait.
- Although there is no cure for sickle cell anemia, doctors know a great deal about how to treat it.
- The goal of treatment is to relieve pain, prevent infections, and control complications if they occur. The treatments include:
- Medications
- Blood transfusions
- Specific treatment for complications.
- If you have sickle cell anemia, it is important to take good care of yourself and see your doctor regularly.
- If your child has sickle cell anemia, you should learn as much about the disease as possible. This will help you recognize early signs of problems, such as fever or chest pain, and seek early treatment.
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