By: Austin Schulte & Brendan Logan P. 4

Background/History  Discovered in 1910  The disease is said to have originated in Africa, but it was first discovered in United States.  Dr. Ernest Irons examined one of his patients blood under a microscope and noticed that they were in the shape of sickle.

Causes  It is caused by Hemoglobin S which is an abnormal type of Hemoglobin.  It causes the blood cells to be misshaped.  You have to inherit the gene from both parents.  If only one of your parents has the gene you will inherit but you will not show effects of the disease.

Symptoms  Fatigue  Shortness of breath  Rapid heart rate  Abdominal pain attack  Ulcers (in lower legs)  Over time the spleen fails  Yellowing of eyes and skin

Treatment  The only way to fully cure the disease is a bone marrow transplant or a blood transfusion.  Patients are advised to take penicillin to prevent deadly diseases and folic acid which creates new blood cells.  People with the disease should drink plenty of water, get lots of rest and avoid too much physical activity.

Fun Facts  Healthy blood cells can survive for up to 120 days, but sickle-cells can only live for 10 – 20 days.  People who are heterozygous for sickle-cell anemia have an unknown immunity to malaria.  About 1 out of every 500 African babies born in the United States is born with sickle-cell anemia.

Works Cited  Genetic Science Learning Center. "Sickle Cell Disease." Learn.Genetics 19 February  Board, A.D.A.M. Editorial. "Sickle Cell Anemia." Sickle Cell Anemia. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 Nov Web. 19 Feb  "Malaria and the Red Cell." Malaria and the Sickle Hemoglobin Gene. Harvard, 2 Apr Web. 19 Feb  Staff, Mayo Clinic. "Definition." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 26 Mar Web. 19 Feb  Winter, William P. "A Brief History of Sickle Cell Disease." A Brief History of Sickle Cell Disease. Howard, n.d. Web. 19 Feb