SICKLE CELL ANEMIA IMANI D.

STEWART ANNE ARUNDEL COMMUNITY COLLEGE

WHAT IS SICKLE CELL ANEMIA?

Sickle cell anemia is the most common form of sickle cell disease. Sickle cell disease is a disease where the body makes blood cells that are sickle shaped. When the blood cells are sickle shaped it means the blood cells are shaped like a crescent, or half moon. Sickle cell anemia is a form of anemia. Sickle cell anemia is one type of anemia. Anemia is a condition when people have do not have the correct amount of red blood cells; the cells that they have are lower. Red blood cells are made in the marrow inside the larger bones of the body. Bone marrow is the reason new blood cells are constantly replacing the old ones. During sickle cell anemia, the bone marrow cant make new red blood cells fast enough to replace the dying ones. Sickle cell anemia is inherited; children inherit two genes for sickle and they get one from each parent.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

- -present at birth but wont show until four months - most signs are related to anemia and pain

ANEMIA SIGNS

-fatigue -dizziness -headaches -cold hands & feet -skin is paler than usual

CAUSES

-inherited -inherits two sickle cell hemoglobin genes, one from each parent -genetic abnormality in the gene for hemoglobin = sickle cell hemoglobin

DIAGNOSIS

People are diagnosed with the disease from a blood test. the blood test will help the doctors see what type of hemoglobin is present in the blood .

TESTING

If a blood sample shows that a pregnant mother carries sickle cell gene, then a blood sample is also offered to the child's father. If there is a chance the child will inherit SCD, the mother will be offered a prenatal test to decide if the baby actually has SCD.

BENEFICIAL SERVICES

lifestyle -ongoing care -prenatal counseling if baby is diagnosed -clinical trials

-healthy

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES

1. WISCH ( Working to Improve Sickle Cell Healthcare) improves the quality of care for individuals with sickle cell disease during their lifetime. Two of these projects being, The Sickle Cell Disease Newborn Screening Program and the Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Demonstration Program. 2. Improving Sickle Cell Transitions of Care through Health Information & Technology - this project focuses on if and how a technology tool can improve the health of individuals with sickle cell disease during care transitions.

PROGRAMS & EDUCATION

1. Technical Training - increases the productivity of sickle cell disease professionals that work to assist their organizations in achieving long-term goals. 2. Kermit B. Nash Academic Scholarship- sickle celled individuals can receive this scholarship as long as they meet the requirements; promotes said individuals educational goals. 3. Maintenance of Scholarship Status in College - students must maintain a 2.5 GPA each semester to have their award disbursed. Official college transcripts are required.

CURRENT MEDICAL RESEARCH

On October 10, 2013, a research team from DanaFarber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center discovered a new genetic target for sickle cell therapy. The target controls a molecular switch in red blood cells, which then regulates the hemoglobin production.

CURRENT LAWS

Sickle Cell Treatment Act ( 2013) - provides funding to Medicaid eligible sickle cell patients for laboratory and physician care who are not reimbursed or under-imbursed by Medicaid. - Improved quality of care for patients. - Increased primary care access points, patients served, and services provided. Sickle Cell World Day ( 2008 ) - the sixty third general assembly of the United Nations approved a draft resolution that would recognize sickle cell anemia as a public health priority. - June 19th was the day chosen to celebrate sickle cell world day

FAMILY RESOURCES

SCDAA 231 East Baltimore Street Suite 800 Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Office 410.528.1555 Fax 410.528.1495 Toll Free 800.421.8453 scdaa@sicklecelldisease.org www.sicklecelldisease.org

REFERENCES

(2011) Data & Statistics. Center for Disease

Control & Prevention. Retrieved From http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/sicklecell/data.html (2012) What is Sickle Cell Anemia ? . National, Heart, Lung, and Blood. Retrieved From

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health(2014) Pain Management : Sickle Cell Disease. WebMD. Retrieved From

topics/topics/sca/

http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/pain-management-sickle(2014) Programs & Education. SCDAA. Retrieved from http://www.sicklecelldisease.org/index.cfm?page=programs-education

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