The 'silent killer' hidden inside the body: a blood disease that remains undetected throughout life
Suspense Crime, Digital Desk : On the outside, many people with chronic conditions seem perfectly healthy – that, after all, is the nature of having a largely hidden illness lurking inside. And when this illness is inherited – something with which you are born – many people who carry it may never discover their condition their entire lives. Such is the case with sickle cell, a blood disorder with the ability to masquerade as a perfect state of well-being. World Sickle Cell Day: June 19th
World Sickle Cell Day is observed annually on June 19th, but with remarkably little fanfare or awareness among the general public. It’s high time that people realize that sickle cell is more than just an individual disease; rather, it's a familial as well as community-level disease because of the vast number of individuals carrying the genes but are completely oblivious.
So, What’s the big deal with sickle cell
The critical aspect of sickle cell is when the sickle gene (which, as I previously mentioned, can carry abnormalities, thus, making this gene itself abnormal) is inherited from both the parents. Consequently, there are the resultant chances of transmission. An abnormality in the Sickle Cell (Hb S) gene carries a genetic defect that is transmitted to a new person when both parents have at least one copy of this variant gene. If both parents carry the gene, then their offspring would also run the risk of carrying the gene for which it increases susceptibility for the development of sickle cell anaemia; a grave blood illness leading to debilitating pains, debilitating anaemic state, infections, and even fatal damage to vital organs of the body. Because a vast many have the sickle cell trait and are carriers without knowing that they have it and then later may pass the gene on. It's so easily detectable by a simple blood test, that it is disheartening that a large proportion of patients/their families discover that they are carriers
