What type of people get affected and what are the complications of SCD?
First of all, if parents are the sickle cell trait, then the child might get affected. For this, the hemoglobin electrophoresis blood test is done to determine which type of cells the child will carry.
What type of people get affected and what are the complications of SCD?
First of all, if parents have the sickle cell trait, then the child might get affected. For this, the hemoglobin electrophoresis blood test is done to determine which type of cells the child will carry.
Secondly, the areas where endemic malaria is more likely to get affected such as India, Africa, Saudi Arabia, and the Mediterranean.
Various types of Complications arise due to obstructing blood flow in various areas of the body and sometimes it leads to fatality if not proper treatment is done.
Brain Stroke
If sickle cells prevent the blood flow in an area of the brain which leads to epilepsy, numbness, slurred speech, unconsciousness, etc. Required to take medical attention to prevent other health issues.
Acute Chest Syndrome
This is because of lung infections as of blocked blood vessels in the lungs which makes difficult breathing, chest pain, and fever.
Pulmonary Hypertension
High blood pressure develops in the lungs due to SCD and leads to shortness of breath and fatigue which can be fatal.
Organ Damage
Lack of blood flow and oxygen chronically damage the nerves and organs of the body including kidneys, liver, and spleen and that can be fatal.
Leg ulcers
SCD causes open sores called ulcers on your legs.
Gallstones
Here the causative factor is not blocked blood flow but instead, The breakdown of Red blood cells produces the byproduct called bilirubin and a high level of bilirubin forms the gallstones.
Priapism
Men with SCD have the painful and long-lasting erections in the penis because of blocked blood vessels. This may result in penis damage and impotence.
Splenic Sequestration
This is the damage of splenic vessels in the spleen causes the sudden enlargement of the spleen. The spleen needs to be removed but the patient without a spleen is at high risk of infections by bacterias like streptococcus, Haemophilus, etc.
