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Sickle Cell Anemia A Health Issue Affecting Young Children

Sickle Cell Anemia A Health Issue Affecting Young Children. Valerie Powell 05.27.2013 EEC 2732. What is Sickle Cell Anemia?. The most common form of sickle cell disease.

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Sickle Cell Anemia A Health Issue Affecting Young Children

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  1. Sickle Cell Anemia A Health Issue Affecting Young Children Valerie Powell 05.27.2013 EEC 2732

  2. What is Sickle Cell Anemia? • The most common form of sickle cell disease. • The body forms abnormal red blood cells that are crescent-shaped; normal red blood cells look like doughnuts without holes in the center. • Because of their abnormal shape, the blood cells become stiff and sticky, blocking blood flow through the body.

  3. What is Sickle Cell Anemia? • An inherited, lifelong disorder. • Present at birth. • There is currently no cure, only treatment to help improve anemia and lower complications. Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2012 Photo Source: http://www.drstandley.com/images/health %20topics/SickleCell.jpg

  4. Who is Affected or At Risk? • Most common in families who descend from Africa, South or Central America, Caribbean Islands, Turkey, Greece, Italy, India, and Saudi Arabia. • In the US, an estimated 70,000 – 100,000 people are affected, mainly African Americans. • Disease occurs in about 1 out of every 500 African American births. • Disease occurs in about 1 out of every 36,000 Hispanic births. Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2012

  5. Signs & Symptoms • Signs and symptoms can vary from mild to severe and require hospital care. • May not show symptoms until 4 months old. • Most common symptoms are related to anemia and pain: • Shortness of breath • Dizziness • Headaches • Pale skin • Coldness in hands & feet • Jaundice • Acute or Chronic pain • Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2012

  6. Signs & Symptoms: Sickle Cell Crisis • Crisis is a period of acute illness caused by the clumping of deformed blood cells. • Children are typically hospitalized. • Can be triggered by infection, injury, strenuous exercise, dehydration, exposure to temperature extremes, or unknown reasons. • Symptoms include: fever, swelling of hands or feet, severe abdominal and leg pain, vomiting, and ulcers on the arms and legs. • Source: Marotz, 2012

  7. Complications • Splenic Crisis • Infections • Acute Chest Syndrome • Pulmonary Hypertension • Stroke • Eye Problems • Gallstones • Multiple Organ Failure • Ulcers on the Legs • Priapism • Hand-Foot Syndrome • Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2012

  8. Management • Ongoing Care: • Doctor visits • Routine blood work for lung, kidney and liver function • Infection Prevention: • Current on vaccinations • Good hygiene • Stroke Prevention: • Being aware of signs of stroke: • Sudden weakness, paralysis, confusion, trouble speaking and/or seeing, difficulty breathing, dizziness, loss of balance, unconscious, sudden or severe headache. • Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2012

  9. Teaching Supports & Modifications • Maintain regular contact with the family to review progress and treatment modifications. • Become familiar with symptoms of acute complications. • Have child’s emergency information readily available. • Provide family with learning materials and ideas to be used at home. • Enforce strict sanitary procedures in the classroom.

  10. Teaching Supports & Modifications • Monitor physical activity and provide rest periods. • Encourage a healthy diet. • Encourage proper hydration, allowing unlimited access to water and bathroom breaks. • Alert family to symptoms witnessed in the classroom. • Work with family to help them and the child cope with the condition. • Source: Marotz, 2012

  11. How to Address Common Issues in the Classroom • Issue: • Children may experience a high rate of absenteeism due to flare-ups, infections and illnesses (Marotz, 2012). • Response: • Give parents classwork so the child does not fall too far behind. • If hospitalized, work with hospital tutor on assignments and projects. • Encourage tutoring. • Issue: • Children can often, but not always, take part in physical education or sports (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2012). • Response: • Offer indoor activities for recess during times of extreme heat or cold, and when advised by their physician. • Require weather appropriate clothing.

  12. Works Cited • Marotz, L.R. (2012). Health, safety, and nutrition for the young child (8th ed.) (pp. 104-105). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (September 2012). Retrieved May 26, 2013, from http://www.nhlbi.gov/health-topics/topics/sca/

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