This article will discuss the facts about what sickle cell trait is and what to expect when you’re affected. The facts about this genetic disorder are numerous and include information about the illness’s link to malaria parasites and health problems. While there is a large margin of safety for these people, they are not immune to life-threatening situations. People with this trait should not marry women who don’t know their genes. The fact that they have two genes for sickle cell does not mean that they will develop the disease.
Genetic disorder
Sickle cell disease is a hereditary, lifelong condition caused by an alteration in a gene in the red blood cells. To understand the disease and its symptoms, it is important to understand the role of the genes in the body. All living things are composed of cells, the basic building blocks of life. The human body contains trillions of cells. The red blood cells contain hemoglobin. The sickle cell trait occurs in one out of every six people.
The gene responsible for the disease, referred to as beta-globin, causes abnormal red blood cells to form a sickle shape. Red blood cells with this type of hemoglobin do not carry oxygen well. Because of their shape, sickled cells clog blood vessels and cut off their supply to various tissues. This results in severe pain, heart attacks, and other health problems. In order to diagnose sickle cell disease, the affected person must have a sickle cell gene in both parents.
Lifelong illness
If your child has been diagnosed with a sickle cell trait, the best way to care for them is to learn as much as possible about the disease. Make sure your child knows when they may be having symptoms and what to do in case they do occur. Make sure your child drinks plenty of liquids and gets plenty of rest. Dress them warmly and limit their time outdoors. Talk to your child’s doctor about activities they should avoid. Be sure your child takes the prescribed medicines.
People with sickle cell trait are genetically predisposed to develop a range of complications, including a severe form of anemia. Sickle cell anemia is an autosomal recessive hemoglobinopathy characterized by chronic hemolytic anemia and a vaso-occlusive crisis. The underlying cause is a mutation in the sixth amino acid of the b-globin gene. It affects approximately one in every two hundred babies born in the US. Worldwide, approximately 300 000 people are diagnosed with SCD. The most common debilitating complication of SCD is central nervous system injury, which can include stroke or cognitive impairment. Before implementation of transcranial Doppler screening, children with sickle cell anemia had a stroke rate of 11% by the time they were 18 years old. In addition, 27% of
Link to malaria parasites
Scientists have discovered a new genetic link between sickle cell trait and malaria parasites. In sub-Saharan Africa, sickle haemoglobin, which is found in two copies in some people, confers protection against malaria parasites. However, genetic variants in these parasites are more common in people who carry sickle haemoglobin, indicating that the malaria parasites have evolved to overcome this protective trait.
Researchers have found that mice with the sickle cell trait are more resistant to malaria parasites than non-carriers. The mutations result from evolutionary pressures that have led to mutations in human haemoglobin. These faulty cells cannot remodel the parasite, and therefore are eliminated by the host organism. However, individuals with one mutated sickle-cell gene can still produce normal haemoglobin. As a result, they remain largely asymptomatic. However, being a carrier confers an advantage in malaria-endemic countries.
Health problems
A person with sickle cell trait has a high risk for a range of medical complications, including heart disease, lung damage, and stroke. The sickle cells can block major blood vessels, including those that supply the brain. If they block these vessels, the person can suffer a stroke, which can cause a variety of symptoms including weakness in the arms and legs, drooping facial muscles, and sudden loss of consciousness. Other health issues associated with sickle cell trait can include leg ulcers, bone or joint damage, kidney problems, and gallstones. People can also experience a delayed growth pattern.
While the precise causes of this condition remain unclear, the fact remains that the trait is more common in African Americans than in white people. According to Kim Smith-Whitley, the director of the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and a pediatrician, she sees many similarities between sickle cell disease and Covid infection. During her visit to a patient with Covid infection, Kim Vojta saw that there were similarities between the two illnesses.
Social stigma
Despite the growing body of research on social stigma, little is known about how it impacts the quality of life and health outcomes for people living with sickle cell trait (SCD). In a recent study, 42 US and Nigerian adults with SCD were interviewed. Results indicated that the stigma experienced by Nigerian adults was higher than that experienced by US adults, with the latter reporting greater stigma associated with fear of rejection from significant others and from health care providers. The study also identified four interpretable factors related to SCD stigma:
Researchers found that patients with SCD who reported feeling discriminated against had a lower quality of life than those who did not feel discriminated against. Such negative experiences may lead to sadness and social isolation. As such, the aim of this study was to examine the role of social stigma in the treatment of sickle cell trait and the impact on quality of life. Further research will be required to determine the causes of such stigma and the impact it has on patients.
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