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SICKLE CELL DISEASE PT 2

Welcome to another session of medical tips with your number one Doctor, Dr Nshe MD.

Last week we started a discussion on Sickle Cell Disease. If you missed it, you can quickly scroll to last Saturday's edition.
By now I believe you would still be wondering why the emphasis on SCDx, these are the statistics of the condition in Nigeria;
20 out of every 1000 children are born with sickle cell disease, amounting to about 150, 000 births annually. 16% of under five mortality(deaths) that is 16 out every 100 children that die before age five is from sickle cell disease and 3,500,000 (3.5million) are living with the condition which makes it the most common inherited blood disorder.

WHAT ARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS?
Attempts at complete cure are being worked on with bone marrow transplantation offering a way out. Bone marrow is the part of the bone where red blood cells are produced (manufactured) and if you can correct the problem "from source" thereby having RBCs that are normal.

Other treatment options include:
Treatment and prevention of infections with antibiotics
Adequate childhood immunizations
Malaria prophylaxis
Folic acid administration
Pain Relief and Rehydration for painful crisis
Blood transfusions

WHAT ARE THE PSYCHOSOCIAL EFFECTS OF SCDx?

The psychosocial problems caused by SCDx are enormous and enough reason why we should care for people with this disease and prevent it.

EMOTIONAL EFFECTS
Disruption of School,Work & Recreational activities, Academic Underachievement & Failure
Social isolation and Lonliness
Loss of control over life
Stigma, Teasing & Rejection by Peers
Uncertainty about the future

2.  PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS
Emotional Immaturity
Dependence
Weak Ego Development
Anxiety & Depression
Social Withdrawal & Low Self Esteem

3.   FINANCIAL BURDEN
Repeated Hospital Admissions
Repeated Blood Transfusion
Daily Intake of Medication

In conclusion, people living with sickle cell disease can live normal lives with good support and attention to medication. It is as well a preventable disease if people can do a simple haemoglobin electrophoresis to check their genotypes.

Share this knowledge, it might just be a saving grace for someone. Got any questions or need an advice? Send me a mail, mukzydave@yahoo.com or add me on BBM 52E61943. You can also follow me on twitter @NsheMuknaan. Till next week, remember your health is important in becoming Great.

©theINSIGHT 2015

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