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The strange hemoglobin, known as hemoglobin S, causes crystals to form in the cell. This causes the cell to assume a sickle shape, which looks similar to a cresent moon, instead of the cell's normal round shape. The sickle shaped cells begin to start blocking the arteries, preventing ordinary, unaffected cells from reaching the heart and cirrculating throughout the body.
This is what causes crises, which are periods of fever and pain and one of the chief symptoms of the disease. The disease also causes strokes, lung or heart damage, and sudden death.
Sickle Cell Anemia is caused when a child inherits the sickle cell trait from both parents, which does not mean the person has the disease. Although about one in ten African Americans carry the sickle cell trait, only about one in every six hundred African American Children is born with two of the traits and has the disease.
This disease is not as deadly if diagnosed at birth and frequent antibiotics are used. Some doctors will reduce the amount of crises with a medicine known as hydroxyurea. Young children can be cured of the disease with a bone marrow transplant, but this is a risky surgery that can cause serious illness or death.