Sickel cell anaemia is a genetic disease of haemoglobin, in the red blood cells, the prime work of which is to deliver oxygen-rich blood to the entire body. Those with sickle cell anaemia have a typical hemoglobin molecule called hemoglobin S, which indicates that red blood cells are distorted into a crescent shape.

Normally, RBCs are the shape of a disc, giving them the flexibility to travel even through the tiniest of blood vessels. However, when you have sickle cell anaemia, RBCs may become sickle-shaped and break down prematurely. This makes them sticky and inflexible to move around the blood vessels. As a result of this, blood may not reach different parts of the body, causing harm to the cells and tissues.