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  • Graphic design with the heading Sickle Cell Disease and elements of blood cells, test tubes, doctor and medical chart
    Sickle Cell Disease
    Sickle Cell Disease is a genetic blood disorder characterized by mutated hemoglobin that causes red blood cells to become “sickle” shaped. These red blood cells stick together and hinder the blood flow and oxygen from reaching all parts of the body. It can create blockage of small blood vessels resulting in pain and organ damaging complications. Regular medical checkups and ongoing management are crucial to prevent further complications.
Submitted by dr.lavleen.hea… on 14 June 2024
Graphic image depicting Sickle Cell Disease with text overlay Treatment

Treatment of sickle cell disease aims to manage symptoms and prevent organ damage. Besides bone marrow transplants that can be curative for some people, there are  also emerging gene therapies for sickle cell disease.  

  • Pain medications for pain crisis
  • Drinking plenty of water daily (8 to 10 glasses) to manage pain crisis
  • Blood transfusion 
  • Vaccinations and antibiotics to prevent infections
  • Folic acid to prevent severe anemia
  • Hydroxyurea helps to reduce the frequency of pain crisis and acute chest syndrome

     

  • Stem cell or bone marrow transplants are the only cure for sickle cell disease, but they're not recommended in every case because of significant risk involved.
Changed
19/Jun/2024

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  • Graphic image depicting Sickle Cell Disease with text overlay Sickle Cell Disease Causes
    Causes of Sickle Cell Disease
    Causes of Sickle Cell Disease  Sickle cell disease is caused by defect in gene and it is passed down from parents to children. The mutations in the beta globin genes affect the structure of hemoglobin molecule (also called as Hemoglobin S.), causing it to form abnormal "sickle" shapes.                           Figure 2 – How sickle cell disease is inherited? A child will be born with sickle cell disease only if two genes…
  • Graphic image depicting Sickle Cell Disease with text overlay Overview
    Overview of Sickle Cell Disease
     Sickle cell disease is an inherited disorder that leads to abnormal hemoglobin. All red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which carries oxygen throughout our body. Normal and healthy red blood cells are round in shape and move through small blood vessels to carry oxygen to all parts of the body. In sickle cell disease, abnormal hemoglobin causes the red blood cells to become sticky and hard and look like a C- shape called “sickle”. Due to this shape and sticky nature, it gets stuck in the…
  • रक्त दान गाइडलाइन्स
    हम सब रक्त से जुड़े हुए हैं  क्या आप रक्त दान कर सकते हैं? रक्त दान के लिए क्या तैयारी करनी चाहिये? रक्त दान करने के बाद किस तरह की देखभाल की जरूरत है? इन सब सवालों के जवाब, एक जगह।  रक्त दान के लिए योग्यता/ रक्त दान कौन कर सकता है • कोई भी स्वस्थ व्यक्ति जो फिट है और जिसे कोई संक्रामक रोग नहीं है, वह रक्त दान कर सकता है। • रक्त दाता की उम्र 18 और 60 के बीच होनी चाहिए और वजन कम से कम  50 किलो होना चाहिए। कुछ ब्लड बैंक  वजन 45 किलो से अधिक हो तब भी रक्त दान की अनुमति देते हैं…
  • A framed profile pic of a person with a black shirt and a peppered beard
    I Talk To My Young Daughter About Benefits Of Blood Donation
    Pranav Agarwal, 39, who has been donating blood for the last 21 years and has recently converted to being a regular platelet donor, talks about how a unit of blood from a single individual can potentially help 5 recipients and encourages people to come forward to donate blood to save more lives.  When did you first donate blood? Could you tell us a little bit how it started? From an early age, I had thought about becoming a blood donor. Like everyone else, I was a little squeamish at the…
  • Picture of frequent Blood Donor Dr Nikhil Nasikkar
    Let’s donate blood and save lives
    Give blood. Give now. Give often.  On World Blood Donor Day, Dr Nikhil Nasikkar, a frequent blood donor, points out the acute shortage of blood in our hospitals and implores potential donors to donate blood generously to save people who die every year due to its scarcity. Most middle and low income countries have low blood donation rates. I first donated blood on my 19th birthday. My friends were pestering me to cut a cake and throw a party. But I am not much into…
  • An image of a person in a white shirt and blue denims holding a red placard with text in white Give Blood Save Life
    Blood Donation Guidelines
    Donate Blood. Save Lives. Can you donate blood or platelets? How should you prepare before a blood or platelet donation and what care do you need after a blood donation. All in one place. Dr. Shital Patel explains.  Eligibilities for Blood Donation Must be currently in good health with no active infection. Donor must be between 18-60 years of age. Donor must be no less than 45 kgs in body weight. Donor’s haemoglobin level must be no less than 12.5g/dl for females and 13.0g/dl for males.…