What To Know About Sickle Cell Charities For Kids

By Rosella Campbell


Sickle-cell disease and sickle-cell anemia, SCD or SCA respectively, are names given to a hereditary blood disorder. This condition is characterized by red blood cells that take on an rigid, abnormal shape. This sickling decreases the overall flexibility of the cells and heightens risk of life-threatening conditions. The disease is the result of a mutant gene that produces a mix of abnormal and normal haemoglobin. There are many sickle cell charities for kids that are designed to raise money to fund treatments and research for those affected by this hereditary disorder.

Those who have this condition usually have a shortened life. In the past, men and women with this were not expected to live beyond 50. Advancements in medicine have led to better disease management and now the life span is approximated at 70 years old, although some people live beyond that. A key to management of the disease is knowledge.

Charitable organizations for children with this problem aim to earn funds to increase medical studies for this disease. They are also designed to bring about awareness to all. This is often done by organizing educational resources so that sufferers, including children, are able to learn more about this disorder and how best to keep it in control.

There are many complications associated with this disease. Sufferers are at a greater risk of bacterial infections, stroke, silent stroke, osteomyelitis, cholelithiasis, avascular necrosis, opiod intolerance, infarcation and priapism, decreased immune system responses, leg ulcers, acute papillary necrosis, pulmonary hypertension and more. Many of these problems can be prevented or easily healed through proper care and a healthy lifestyle. There are several options available when it comes to managing this condition, including: bone marrow transplants, hydroxyurea, transfusion therapy, folic acid and penicillin, vaso-occlusive crises, malaria chemoprophylaxis and acute chest crisis.

These charities may put donations toward a variety of different programs and benefits. Ultimately, they focus their efforts toward supporting research, professional education, providing public information and advocacy. It is important to look into the background of the charities and organizations before contributing them, to ensure you know where the money is going and that the donation is being sent to a trusted entity. The thing that many of these groups share is the desire to find a cure for this inherited disease so that children do not have to grow up with this illness and eventually pass it on.

The first written records of this date back to the 1800s. It was in the 1900s that a lot of information was brought to light about this. The condition afflicts people of all kinds, thought it seems dominant and those who have ancestors from East India, Mediterranean countries, Middle Eastern countries and Africa.

Diagnosis is typically done at birth as part of newborn screening tests. A second test is usually done to confirm the diagnosis. Children with this disease are more prone to infection and complications. This is why early treatment and diagnosis is important to preventing serious problems.

It is crucial that children with this receive proper care on a regular basis. Guardians are expected to share all questions or concerns with health care providers. As children get older, education about this disease is recommended. Charities do their part to make resources available to people around the world as they strive to raise funds to get a cure.




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