Condition Lookup

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Sub-Category:

Sickle Cell Crisis

Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care

Category: Hematologic and Oncologic Emergencies

Symptoms:
severe pain in the chest, abdomen, or joints; shortness of breath; fatigue; fever; swelling in hands and feet; jaundice or pale skin

Root Cause:
Blockage of small blood vessels due to the abnormal, sickle-shaped red blood cells leading to ischemia and inflammation.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history of sickle cell disease, physical exam, complete blood count (CBC), reticulocyte count, hemoglobin electrophoresis, and imaging (if complications are suspected).

Treatment:
Pain management with opioids or NSAIDs, hydration (IV fluids), oxygen therapy (if hypoxic), and treatment of any underlying or associated infections. Severe cases may require blood transfusions.

Medications:
Pain is often managed with opioids (e.g., morphine , hydromorphone ) and NSAIDs (e.g., ketorolac ). Hydroxyurea , an antimetabolite, is used to reduce the frequency of crises. Antibiotics may be prescribed for infections (e.g., ceftriaxone for pneumonia).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 300,000 newborns globally each year, with higher prevalence in individuals of African, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Indian descent.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Inherited condition, family history of sickle cell disease, and environmental triggers such as dehydration, extreme temperatures, and infections.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With proper management, most patients live into their 40s–60s; complications can reduce life expectancy.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Acute chest syndrome, stroke, organ damage (kidneys, spleen), infections, and chronic pain.

Hemophilia-Related Bleeding

Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care

Category: Hematologic and Oncologic Emergencies

Sub-category: Blood Disorders

Symptoms:
uncontrolled or prolonged bleeding; easy bruising; joint pain and swelling; blood in urine or stool; nosebleeds; intracranial hemorrhage in severe cases

Root Cause:
Deficiency or dysfunction of clotting factors (Factor VIII in hemophilia A or Factor IX in hemophilia B), leading to impaired blood clotting.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Family history, coagulation tests (e.g., activated partial thromboplastin time [aPTT], factor activity levels), and genetic testing.

Treatment:
Replacement therapy with clotting factors (Factor VIII or IX), antifibrinolytics (e.g., tranexamic acid), and recombinant factor products. Severe bleeding may require emergency intervention and imaging to assess complications.

Medications:
Clotting factor concentrates (recombinant or plasma-derived Factor VIII/IX) are essential. Antifibrinolytics like tranexamic acid or aminocaproic acid may be used adjunctively. Desmopressin (a synthetic hormone) is used in mild cases of hemophilia A.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Hemophilia affects approximately 1 in 5,000 male births for hemophilia A and 1 in 20,000 for hemophilia B.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Inherited X-linked disorder; primarily affects males. Family history is the primary risk factor.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With proper management, individuals can live a normal lifespan, though complications such as joint damage and inhibitor development can occur.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Joint damage (hemophilic arthropathy), intracranial hemorrhage, excessive bleeding after surgeries or injuries, and inhibitor development against replacement therapy.