The following presents the topic of Sickle-cell anemia. The topic is describes along with an explanation of why this is an interesting and important area of chemistry. The potential impact on the environment, agriculture, economics, public health or society in general is provided. Next conclusions and recommendations are made.
Sickle cell disease is a common monogenetic disorder found worldwide that affects 30 million people (Inati, Koussa, Taher, & Perrine, 2008). Sickle cell anemia is an interesting and important area of chemistry because, as noted by Inati et al., this disease is a major public health concern linked to morbidity and mortality. Anemia is the most common hematologic problem found in children and 30% of children have anemia. Thus, it is important to diagnose the type of anemia to determine if the child suffers from sickle cell anemia (Inati, 2008). Sickle cell disease varies phenotypically and people vary in symptoms ranging from severe with death at a very young age to hardly noticeable until adulthood. These multiple manifestations are related to different complications that have the potential to affect each aspect of the patient's life.
Clinical manifestations of a common and severe type include self-limited pain with acute chest syndrome, stroke, acute splenic sequestration, joint necrosis, hepatic sequestration, and organ failure to include renal disease and functional asplenia. Manifestations of another type include chronic anemia, pulmonary arterial hypertension, gallstones, leg ulceration, priapism, stroke, and sudden death. Pain and acute chest syndrome episodes are the most common causes of morbidity related to the disease and pulmonary complications are related to premature death. Hydroxyurea is being used to treat children and adults with this disease (Inati et al., 2008; Platt, 2008).
Hydroxyurea is being used by many patients, but overall it is underuse
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