Sickle cell anemia/disease stroke

A family medical history can identify people with a higher-than-usual chance of having common disorders, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, certain cancers, and diabetes. These complex disorders are influenced by a combination of genetic factors, environmental conditions, and lifestyle choices. A family history also can provide information about the risk of rarer conditions caused by mutations in a single gene, such as cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia. 

Miller ST, MackUn EA, Pegelow CH, et al. Silent infarction as a risk factor for overt stroke in children with sickle cell anemia A report from the Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease. J Pediatr 2001 139 385-390. 

These unusually shaped sickle cells clog the circulatory system, reducing blood flow. Therefore, oxygen supply to nearby tissues is reduced. Sickle cell disease causes pain, anemia, stroke, and susceptibility to infection. 

The cost to society of sickle cell disease is high in terms of human suffering and in the financial burden of providing treatment to alleviate the pain and symptoms of the afflicted individnals and the loss of income to the individnals and their families and communities. Health problems due to sickle cell disease include chronic anemia, vaso-occlnsive crises, splenic sequestration, acute chest syndrome, stroke, splenic and renal dysfunction, and snsceptibility to bacterial infections (2,5,12). In Africa, treatments for sickle cell disease are limited... 

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