Reflection:

This is not an aspect of the disease I had thought of before; it is important to remember that there are very human bodies that contain these sickle-shaped cells. The fact that this "treatment" focuses on the symptoms of the disease rather than the cause is also indicative of the difficulty in combating the disease. Comfort is really all that's possible.

Beutler, E. (2002). "Sickle cell disease." Encyclopedia of public health, Vol 4. New York: Macmillan, pp. 1099-100. Retrieved via Gale Cengage.

Summary:

This encyclopedia entry gives a detailed overview of the disease -- it's pathology, causation, prevalence, etc. It begins with a definition of how the disease is classified, both through morphological changes to the red blood cells and, in more recent years, genetic identification. A genetic mutation on the beta-globin gene creates a hemoglobin -- which is a type of protein -- that has less solubility than normal hemoglobin, causing it to build up and clump. The sickle cell gene is now found in almost all populations, but is most prevalent and almost...

Interestingly, carrying one gene for sickle cell, which causes sickle cell trait, also protects against malaria, which provided a he survival advantage to many Africans. To sickle cell genes, however, results in sickle cell disease. Other types of sickle cell disease exist in which two different mutations to the same gene are inherited, causing complications in the symptoms of the disease and its treatment.
Assessment:

This article provides all of the essential information about the disease. Its explanations are thorough without being repetitive or dry. The structure of the piece makes it a very interesting read, as if the mystery of the disease is unraveling almost in a narrative-like way.

Reflection:

Though I had already obtained most of this basic information, having it reiterated -- and handy -- in such an interesting and concise way cemented my understanding of the disease. The tidbit about malarial protection was also knew. It makes me wonder what other connections I and medical science might be missing in our race to cure everything.