Final answer:
All conditions listed - dehydration, infection, and cold weather - can trigger a vaso-occlusive crisis in individuals with sickle cell anemia, a genetic disease where red blood cells assume a sickle shape and block blood vessels.
Step-by-step explanation:
Conditions that may cause sickle cell anemia to turn into a vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) include a) Dehydration, b) Infection, and c) Cold weather; therefore, the correct answer is d) All of the above.
Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disease caused by the production of an abnormal hemoglobin, hemoglobin S, leading to red blood cells adopting a sickle shape. These sickled cells can get stuck in small blood vessels, causing blockages that prevent oxygen from reaching tissues, resulting in pain and other serious complications. Factors such as dehydration, infection, or exposure to cold can induce or exacerbate these vaso-occlusive events.