spherocytosis

Spherocytosis is a form of hemolytic anemia, a disorder in which the body destroys its own red blood cells, removing them from the bloodstream prematurely. There are two basic types of spherocytosis, hereditary and acquired.

Spherocytosis is caused by an inherited mutation in the alpha-spectrin gene, which results in a defective protein and abnormal red blood cell shape.


 * **﻿Anaemia**-is when you have a decrease in number of red blood cells or less then normal amount of hemoglobin in the blood.
 * **Enlarged spleen-** is when your spleen is larger then its supposed to be.A normal size spleen is about the size of a fist. Doctors can't feel a normal spleen but can feel an enlarged spleen. this condition deals with different medical conditions starting with blood disorder to infections to certain forms of cancer.[[image:yello.jpg width="140" height="101" align="right"]]
 * **Yellow tinge to skin and whites of eyes-** the yellow pigment is from the bilirubin, a byproduct of old red blood cells
 * **Gallstones**- hard, pebble-like deposits that form inside the gallbladder.
 * **Abnormal shaped red cells-** may become entrapped and block blood flow in the small blood vessels.
 * **Anemia due to destruction of red blood cells-**condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells.
 * **fatigue-**a state of awareness describing a range of afflictions, usually associated with physical and/or mental weakness.

People with a family history  of  spherocytosis  may pass on defective genes to their offspring even if they do not have the condition themselves. Like other genetic conditions, it is associated with a specific gene, a complex series of interactions can be involved and people may carry deleterious genes with a potential for causing blood disorders without being aware of it. Sometimes these genes combine in unfortunate ways and cause unusually severe disorders.
 * **Blood transfusion**-common procedure in which blood is given to you through an IV line in one of your blood vessels.
 * **Removal of spleen-**surgery to remove a diseased or damaged spleen.
 * **Life long folate supplements-** water soluable B vitamin that occurs naturally in food.[[image:blood.jpg width="169" height="136" align="right"]]