Question & Answers
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION ON SICKLE CELL DISEASE
What is Sickle Cell Disease?
It is an inherited disorder of the Haemoglobin which is contained in the blood, which makes the suffering person experience varying kinds of ill health throughout his life. This affects the red blood cell function.
What is Red Blood Cell?
The blood of a human being is made up of white blood cell (leucocytes), platelets (thrombocytes), red blood cell (erythrocytes) and plasma.
In this context, the red blood cell is very important. It is a rounded structure which contains protein and iron elements bound together as haemoglobin (HB). The HB carries oxygen into different parts of the body and removes the used gas (carbon dioxide). In this process the body gets its energy. A normal red blood cell (RBC) survives for about 120 days by which time it becomes too old and disintegrates naturally.
What is Sickle Cell?
A sickle cell is a red blood cell that is deformed like a sickle. The cell "sickles" when there is not enough oxygen. Only the S haemoglobin sickles.
Who is a Sickler?
A sickler is someone who carries a pair of abnormal haemoglobin (HB) in his or her blood, e.g. SS, CC, SC and so on. SS disorder combination is the most common in Africa.
Is Sickle Cell Contagious?
Sickle cell anaemia is not contagious and it cannot be passed through blood transfusion.
Why is the knowledge of Sickle Cell Important to Us?
Sickle cell related complications constitute a major health problem in West Africa today. An in-depth knowledge of this subject will help intending couples to make quality decisions before getting involved in childbearing.
