Signs & Symptoms of Hemoglobin C Disease

There are many conditions that affect red blood cells and hemoglobin C disease is one of them. To diagnose the condition a doctor will do a blood test to check the hemoglobin count and to do an overall evaluation of the health of the blood. The condition is primarily found in people of African descent.

Identification

• Hemoglobin is the part of the red blood cell that carries oxygen to the internal organs of the body. Hemoglobin C disease is a defect in the part of the hemoglobin known as the beta globin. This causes the red blood cells to start to break down and die earlier than they are supposed to which can not only create a situation where there is a low red blood cell count, but it can also affect the flow of oxygen to the internal organs. According to the University of Iowa, hemoglobin C disease originated in West Africa and primarily strikes people that have descended from that part of the world. The university estimates that hemoglobin C disease affects as much as 3% of the African-American population.

Effects

• It is not unusual for people who are infected with hemoglobin C disease to live a full life and never show symptoms of the disease. In the case that early symptoms do appear these symptoms may include an enlarged spleen and slight abdominal pain. One of the more common symptoms of hemoglobin C disease is a slight drop in the red blood cell count which is known as anemia. A mild case of anemia may cause a slight feeling of fatigue generally after physical activity.

Potential

• Some of the more advanced symptoms of hemoglobin C disease can be painful and even dangerous. One of these symptoms is gallstones, which can be extremely painful to pass unless some other form of treatment is used to reduce them. Jaundice may occur which causes a slightly yellow tint to the skin and to the whites of the eyes. Jaundice is an indication that the hemoglobin C disease is affecting the functioning of the liver and should be reported to a doctor immediately.

Prevention/Solution

• Most people who suffer from hemoglobin C disease do not require any form of treatment. In some cases the more serious symptoms such as gallstones and jaundice may require immediate medical attention, but the underlying condition of hemoglobin C disease can remain untreated. In more severe cases a doctor may prescribe a folic acid supplement to help the production of healthy red blood cells.

Considerations

• The prognosis for people with hemoglobin C disease is extremely good. In some rare cases complications involving severe pelvic or hip pain, or vision problems such as double or blurred vision, may occur. But these instances are rare, and for the most part a person suffering from hemoglobin C disease can expect to live a healthy life.