Sickle Cell Anemia

The sickle cell disease is more prevalent than any other genetic disease such as cystic fibrosis , Phenylketonuria (PKU ) , Hemophilia , Tay -Sachs and muscular dystrophy. , According to the World Health Organization (WHO) , sickle cell anemia is recognized as one of the 4 plagues , as well as malaria, AIDS and tuberculosis.

1/10 Black people has the gene for sickle cell disease.

1/400 child of the community at risk is reached

When both parents have the trait of the disease, there are 25 % chance that the child is sick.

More than 300 000 children are born each year worldwide with the disease and 50% will not reach their fifth birthday in absence of support from birth. Sickle cell anemia is more common than hemophilia , muscular dystrophy , cystic fibrosis and many others.

In Canada, as in Quebec, there is very little data despite its prevalence and chronicity ; she is very little known and very few resources are allocated to help the sick , although many human consequences and unhappy.

The sickle cell disease

The sickle cell disease is a group of hereditary diseases the most common are the SICKLE CELL ANEMIA and S / thalassemia In general , the term sickle cell disease is used to describe a group of genetic blood disorders of red blood cells characterized by a predominance of hemoglobin S. the main manifestations of the disease are chronic anemia and organ damage caused by the obstruction of blood flow.

The effects of the disease

Sickle cell anemia is a chronic disease with very painful crises that occur repeatedly throughout the life of sufferers. This pain is a symptom that haunts sickle cell disease patients , their parents and carers.

Care and treatment

Currently sickle cell disease is incurable, but adequate medical care can prevent the effects . Pain in the person with sickle cell disease, because most often it will re-offend , should be treated quickly and effectively . Repeated pain, by the way they are experienced , have an impact on the psychological development and the child’s physical and his way of feeling the painful crises that will occur again and again.

