Sickle cell disease is a genetic condition that affects hemoglobin in the red blood cells. It comes with recurrent pain and several complications that have a far reaching effect on the victim. The patient suffers at psychosocial level, education and in a way that will interfere with his economic potential.
Couples intending to get married and bear children are advised to attend genetic counseling sessions before conception since this is the best way of preventing sickle cell anemia. This will help them establish their levels of vulnerability and prevent the birth of a child who is infected. The counselors offer insights on preventive measures, reproductive and treatment options available for the disease.
The level of severity determines how long a patient lives. Children with the most severe form rarely get to celebrate their fifth birthday. They succumb to severe cases of anemia or complications that arise from this condition. This can be prevented through early detection and preconception awareness. Those who survive beyond five years are also vulnerable to complications arising from the condition.
The social economic implications of sickle cell disease on the patient and family are huge. The crisis recurs over time and affects their lives and family to a great extent. It takes over resources and time especially where the support of health institutions and care givers is not reliable. The absence of medical support makes management difficult for such a family.
Management becomes crucial for patients since there is no known cure. Patients are under a lot of pain and require personalized attention to handle it. Some of the intervention measures available include rest, good nutrition, antibiotics and analgesics. Such a patient should be under folic acid supplement and take a lot of fluids.
Some regions have developed effective therapeutic remedies that are still under analysis and testing. They are known to make the pain manageable and reduce severity of attacks. Morbidity and infant mortality have been known to reduce through neonatal screening. This also requires timely testing, parental education and comprehensive management.
Penicillin has provided a solution in treatment of infections that result from this condition. This option is not available to all families since it requires health-care infrastructure. The intervention of advocacy groups and government institutions is crucial. Early detection on the other hand enables access to professional care and proper management.
The involvement of parents, care givers and teachers is crucial in achieving a multi disciplinary approach. Data collection aids in developing intervention measures since trends can be noted and necessary attention given to the process. Counseling before conception and screening for the couples is also crucial. It ensures that children are not born with sickle cell anemia.
Unavailability of resources requires that simple and cost effective technology be used in management of related conditions. Health and social workers are crucial in reducing the number of sick children. Expensive programs have proven unsustainable and therefore unreliable. This calls for a different approach which involves counseling and social advocacy.
Couples intending to get married and bear children should consider family histories for traces of the disease. This can be ascertained during preconception counseling and screening. Detecting the condition early makes it easier to manage.
Couples intending to get married and bear children are advised to attend genetic counseling sessions before conception since this is the best way of preventing sickle cell anemia. This will help them establish their levels of vulnerability and prevent the birth of a child who is infected. The counselors offer insights on preventive measures, reproductive and treatment options available for the disease.
The level of severity determines how long a patient lives. Children with the most severe form rarely get to celebrate their fifth birthday. They succumb to severe cases of anemia or complications that arise from this condition. This can be prevented through early detection and preconception awareness. Those who survive beyond five years are also vulnerable to complications arising from the condition.
The social economic implications of sickle cell disease on the patient and family are huge. The crisis recurs over time and affects their lives and family to a great extent. It takes over resources and time especially where the support of health institutions and care givers is not reliable. The absence of medical support makes management difficult for such a family.
Management becomes crucial for patients since there is no known cure. Patients are under a lot of pain and require personalized attention to handle it. Some of the intervention measures available include rest, good nutrition, antibiotics and analgesics. Such a patient should be under folic acid supplement and take a lot of fluids.
Some regions have developed effective therapeutic remedies that are still under analysis and testing. They are known to make the pain manageable and reduce severity of attacks. Morbidity and infant mortality have been known to reduce through neonatal screening. This also requires timely testing, parental education and comprehensive management.
Penicillin has provided a solution in treatment of infections that result from this condition. This option is not available to all families since it requires health-care infrastructure. The intervention of advocacy groups and government institutions is crucial. Early detection on the other hand enables access to professional care and proper management.
The involvement of parents, care givers and teachers is crucial in achieving a multi disciplinary approach. Data collection aids in developing intervention measures since trends can be noted and necessary attention given to the process. Counseling before conception and screening for the couples is also crucial. It ensures that children are not born with sickle cell anemia.
Unavailability of resources requires that simple and cost effective technology be used in management of related conditions. Health and social workers are crucial in reducing the number of sick children. Expensive programs have proven unsustainable and therefore unreliable. This calls for a different approach which involves counseling and social advocacy.
Couples intending to get married and bear children should consider family histories for traces of the disease. This can be ascertained during preconception counseling and screening. Detecting the condition early makes it easier to manage.
