365DAYS CAMPAIGN AGAINST NON COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Day 266 of 365

SICKLE CELL HEALTH: WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR II

• Watch for signs of stroke. Some children living with SCD may have learning difficulties due to health problems associated with stroke (blockage of blood vessels in the brain that then causes brain damage). 

• Teachers should be aware that declines in academic achievement, inability to maintain attention, difficulties with organization and mild delays in vocabulary development may be due to small brain injuries caused by strokes. 

• Change in hand writing from legible to illegible can also be a sign of stroke in children.

• Teachers should contact parents when changes in learning or a child’s attentiveness are detected so that the child’s doctor can be notified. 

• Formal neurocognitive and educational testing may be necessary to determine any learning difficulties caused by stroke. 

• The testing may help school personnel in developing the best teaching strategies for the student.

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365DAYS CAMPAIGN AGAINST NON COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Day 262 of 365

 SICKLE CELL HEALTHY TIP I

Plenty of fluids – People living with sickle cell disease need to take plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. Fluids should be taken regularly at all-time both in cold and hot season. 

• Keep warm and dry - Sickle Cell Anemia may get worse in cold and wet situations. Always make sure you are warm and dry.

Avoid strenuous activities – Cross country, running, competitive swimming and any strenuous outdoor activities should be avoided.

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365DAYS CAMPAIGN AGAINST NON COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Day 261 of 365

 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SICKLE CELL P2

Sickle cell disease causes red blood cells to “sickle” or become banana shaped when they are stressed and this can make it difficult for them to flow through blood vessels. Normal red blood cells are round and flexible and can move easily through blood vessels, but some of the cells in patients with sickle cell disease become crescent moon shaped and stick to blood vessels. This slows or can stop blood flow through blood vessels, which can cause pain, damage to organs and tissues, or even lead to a stroke.

Some people with sickle cell disease need blood transfusions. Doctors can transfuse red blood cells from a matched blood donor without sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait to treat a patient with sickle cell disease.

Breathing problems are very common in children with sickle cell disease.Breathing issues are under-recognized in children with sickle cell disease but very common. These can include such things as asthma, sleep problems, and recurrent pneumonia.  Nationwide Children's Hospital has a special pulmonary sickle cell clinic to help evaluate and treat these problems.

There is currently only one drug can reduce painful sickle cell-related episodes. Hydroxyurea is a safe, disease modifying medication that has been proven in many trials to reduce complications and reduce mortality in patients with sickle cell disease.

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