6/18/2015
Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) affects millions of adults and children around the world. June 19th is World Sickle Cell Awareness Day and a great time to increase public knowledge and raise awareness about this potentially fatal disease.
People are born with SCD. It is an inherited life-long disease that can run in families. It is most common in people with ancestry in Africa, Central or South America, Caribbean Islands, India, Saudi Arabia, and Mediterranean countries like Turkey, Greece and Italy. According to the World Health Organization, SCD is one of the main causes of premature death in children under five in various African countries.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that SCD causes red blood cells to change their shape from the usual donut shape to a C-shape, like the farm tool called a “sickle.” The sickle cells get caught on the walls of tiny blood vessels, stick to one another and can’t squeeze through the blood vessel. This can form clumps inside blood vessels, blocking the flow of blood, which causes severe pain and other serious problems.
It is important to know if you or a loved one has the sickle cell trait. If you have children with another person that has the trait, there is an increased risk of having a child born with sickle cell disease. Newborns in the U.S. are screened using a few drops of blood from their heel for certain genetic, endocrine, and metabolic disorders, including SCD. Parents should take babies that are not born in a hospital or those that were not screened before leaving the hospital to be checked within a few days of birth.
People with SCD are more at risk for harmful infections, so getting immunizations on time is important. Common illnesses, like the flu, can be dangerous for children with SCD. Pneumonia is a leading cause of death in infants and young children with sickle cell disease.
Good quality medical care from doctors and nurses who know a lot about sickle cell disease can help prevent serious problems. If you were not screened at birth, talk with your health care provider. A simple blood screening can reveal if you have the trait. There are many online resources help you learn about SCD and learn habits to stay healthy.
