Besides a blood test, how do people know if they have sickle cell anemia?
Symptoms of sickle cell anemia frequently begin during the first three years of life. Children begin to experience painful swelling in the hands and feet as the misshapen red blood cells start to clog the small vessels in these areas. Cells can clog organs when the body experiences stress such as cold exposure or dehydration. This can cause a variety of symptoms including significant pain, swelling, a worsening of anemia, enlargement of the spleen, yellowing of the whites of the eyes, breathing problems and even stroke. When these symptoms occur, a person is experiencing a sickle cell crisis. Crises can be avoided by maintaining good nutrition and fluid balance. Also, because these people are at a higher risk of infections, regular daily doses of penicillin are recommended, as well as vaccination against the pneumococcus bacteria and the influenza virus. Patients should see their doctor regularly. Currently, there is no definitive cure for the disease. However, intense research is bein
