Sickle Cell anemia is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. Normal red blood cells are round like doughnuts, and move through tubes in the body to deliver oxygen. Sickle red blood cells become hard, sticky and shaped like sickles used to cut wheat. When these hard and pointed red cells go through the tubes, they clog the flow of blood and break apart. This can cause pain, damage and a low blood count, …showed first 75 words of 381 total…

…showed last 75 words of 381 total…serious infections. Prevention of serious infections is an important part of the treatment in sickle cell anemia. To help prevent infections you should make sure all immunizations are up to date, get a flu shot every year, get the pneumococcus vaccine to protect against a common type of pneumonia, take a daily multiple vitamin to help your body make new red blood cells, and contact your doctor whenever you become sick, even with minor illnesses.