Genetic Blood Disorders genetic blood disorders are transmitted from parents to their children. Certain blood disorders are caused by the reduced production of red blood cells. Red blood cells in our body do not last forever and are needed to be produced after some time, when the production of these red blood cells stops it causes blood disorders in the body of the human beings and may result some serious disease. There are several related abnormal hemoglobin diseases, such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia.
Such diseases can be transmitted from parents to children by genes on chromosomes. When both parents have the sickle cell trait, there is a 25% chance that a child will have sickle cell disease. But when one parent is carrying the trait and the other actually has the disease, the odds increase to 50% that their child will inherit the disease.
Spread of Genetic Blood Disorders in the Kingdom:
The spread of genetic blood disorders (sickle cell anemia and thalassemia) differs among the various regions of the Kingdom. The highest rates are found in the eastern and southern regions, while the rates are low in central and northern regions of the Kingdom. According to the statistics released by the Ministry of Health (Health Marriage Against Genetic Blood Disorders Program: Sickle Cell Anemia and Thalassemia), from 1425H till the end of 1430H, the incidence of sickle cell anemia incidence recorded was 0.27%, whereas the incidence of thalassemia was 0.05%.
What is the Sickle Cell Anemia?
Sickle cell anemia is an inherited form of anemia — a condition in which there aren't enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen throughout your body. Normally, your red blood cells are flexible and round, moving easily through your blood vessels. In sickle cell anemia, the red blood cells become rigid and sticky and are shaped like sickles or crescent moons. These irregularly shaped cells can get stuck in small blood vessels, which can slow or block blood flow and oxygen to parts of the body.
Symptoms of Sickle Cell Anemia
- Periodic episodes of pain in different parts of the body according to the place for breaking red blood cells and microvascular obstruction such as pain in abdomen, joints, or one of the parties.
- Chronic anemia.
- Frequent infections.
- Symptoms of malnutrition, short stature and slow growth.
- Bone deformities.
- Lethargy and fatigue.
