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Sickle cell anemia is an inherited form of anemia-a condition in which there aren't enough healthy
red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen throughout our body. Normally, the red blood cells are
flexible and round, moving easily through the blood vessels. In sickle cell anemia, the red blood cells
become rigid and sticky and are shaped like sickles or crescent moons. These irregularly shaped
cells can get stuck in small blood vessels, which can slow or block blood flow and oxygen to parts of
the body. Thalassemia is a form of inherited autosomal recessive blood disorders characterized by
abnormal formation of hemoglobin. Thalassemia is caused by variant or missing genes that affect
how the body makes hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. There has been a
rise in concern for this genetic disorder of blood especially in children and many awareness
campaigns and initiatives in greater interest of public health are undertaken in India in association
with various hospitals and NGOs.
Malaria is an infectious vector-borne disease spread by mosquito bite to humans and other animals
caused by Plasmodium group of protozoan parasites. The disease is widespread in tropical and
subtropical regions including Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Malaria causes
symptoms that typically include fever, headaches, fatigue and vomiting. Dengue fever, also called
breakbone fever (associated muscle and joint pains), is caused by the dengue virus and is a
mosquito-borne tropical disease. Symptoms in infected humans are similar to measles which include
fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash. Sometimes, it develops into
grievous dengue hemorrhagic fever which is a life-threatening disorder. Diabetes mellitus is caused
in pet animals due to inadequate production of insulin by the islet beta cells in the pancreas.
Glucose in the urine causes the diabetic animal to excrete large volumes of urine. In turn, this
creates dehydration and the urge to drink large amounts of water.
Keywords: Dengue fever, Diabetes, Malaria, Sickle cell anemia, Thalassemia.