Context

• According to Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, till July 31, 2024, a total of 3.85 crore people has been tested for sickle cell Anaemia in 17 identified states.

What is Anaemia?

• The red blood cells in our body contain Haemoglobin, a protein that enables them to carry oxygen from the lungs and deliver it to all parts of the body.
• When the number of red blood cells decreases, the blood cannot supply enough oxygen. This condition is called Anaemia.

What is 'Sickle Cell Anaemia'?

• It is an inherited disease involving red blood cell (RBC) abnormalities that can also affect the shape of the RBCs.
• The RBCs become rigid and look like a C-shaped agricultural tool called a "sickle".
• In sickle cell Anaemia, the red blood cells change to become semicircular and hard/rigid, called sickle cells.  

Effects:

• In this disease, Red Blood Cells break down, leading to complications like lung infection, anaemia, kidney and liver problems etc.
• Due to this disease, blood flow slows down and cells die quickly, leading to a deficiency of RBCs which deprives the body of oxygen.

Symptoms:

• Chronic Anemia
• It can also cause severe pain in the bones, chest, back, arms and legs.
• Problems related to physical development

There are two types of sickle cell patients: -

• Sickle cell carriers: In these people the symptoms of sickle cell disease are not permanent but appear occasionally and such people pass on this disease to their children by inheritance.
• Sickle cell patients: In these people the symptoms of the disease remain permanent due to which the development of their body stops and they definitely cause this disease in their children.

Treatments:

• Bone marrow Transplant
• Gene therapy and stem cell transplant