Lecture: *Sickle cell disease in school age children*
Lecturer: *Mrs Adepoju Mofehintola Goodness*
Date: *7th of September,2019*

*SICKLE CELL DISEASE*
✓A group of disorders that cause red blood cells to become misshaped and break down.
✓ An inherited group of blood disorders, in which the red blood cells that should be like round disc are now in sickle or crescent moon shape; allowing for the cells to die early and leaving a shortage of healthy red blood cells.

*sickle cell disease is typically inherited from person's parent; where either both parents are carriers of the disease(AS) or one or both parents have the disease (SS)*

Sickle cell disease is not a communicable disease but an heriditary or transferrable disease
The most common type of Sickle Cell Disease is Sickle Cell Aneamia(SCA).

*SICKLE CELL ANEAMIA (SCA)*
✓ is an inherited form of aneamia- a condition in which there aren't enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen throughout the body.
This in turn leads to low blood volume (reduced blood production and circulation).
Sickle cell Aneamia is a life threatening condition and as such much care must be rendered to all living with it.

✓ Red blood cells usually live for about 120 days before they need to be replaced but in sickle cell, cells usually die in 10 to 20 days, leaving shortage of red blood cells(Aneamia).
*DIAGNOSIS/HOW TO IDENTIFY A CHILD WITH SICKLE CELL ANEAMIA*

✓ *A blood test (Genotype)*

✓ extreme weakness/ frequent tiredness
✓ episodes of swollen fingers and toes
✓ pale looks
✓(not in all cases) protruding forehead (can be a pointer)

This will help school workers identify a child with sickle cell disease
*sickle cell is diagnosed at birth but symptoms begin to show from 4 month (except in rare cases)*

*CAUSES OF SICKLE CELL DISEASE*

✓Its an heriditary disorder and at such can only occur where the traits can be seen in parents.

*SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS*
✓Aneamia (low blood production and circulation)
✓ Painful attacks ( generally called sickle cell crisis)
✓ weakness and tiredness
✓ Yellowing of the skin,eye and mouth (jaundice)
✓ DACTYLITIS (swelling of fingers and toes) often in children

*TREATMENT*
Basically treatment is by the medical practitioners and as such children living with sickle cell Disease should have a peadiatrist/ specialized care giver.

*However the school should know how to manage a school child with sickle cell Disease/Aneamia*

*HOW CAN THE SCHOOL HELP*

✓ Encourage parents to have their kids get all required child immunization; this will help to prevent infection which can complicate the disease
*Reducing other forms of illnesses is of Paramount importance, as we won't like for a sickle cell child to battle with a plus one dis-ease.
✓ Encourage children to take as much water as possible...
Help the school child drink more water than a regular child to avoid dehydration and sickling of the red blood cell.
✓ Prevent infection as much as possible.
*Help the child do away from any activity that can introduce infection.
*Separate child quickly from communicable diseases.
✓Healthy exercises are good yet precaution is required in children living with sickle cell disease
 School should be able to identify when the child requires a rest.
✓Have a school health practitioner who can give medical assistance/first aid in crisis.
✓The school can educate parents on bone marrow transplant to give a lasting solution to disease.

*PREVENTION*

✓Compatibility test- know your genotype and your spouses genotype to avoid sickle Cell Disease.

*HOW CAN YOU BE OF HELP*

*Spread it!!! Loud it!!!
Let people know why!
  Know your genotype today!