FAQs

Sickle cell anemia is a state of chronic anaemia caused by a mutation in the gene sequence of the red blood cell.

No, SS is inherited from the DNA passed on from the parents. The blood cells transfused into a patient live out their life span and die without changing the inherited genec code

SS can be detected in pregnancy or at delivery if there is a high index if suspicion which warrants the test. If these early tests are not done, then suspicion arises from about 8 months when the child develops hand and foot syndrome (Dactylis). This usually occurs when fetal haemoglobin levels decrease aer 6 months of age.

No, this is not true, but they require specialist care during pregnancy and delivery and should not go for antenatal care in a primary health centre or maternity, rather look for a specialized centre to get the best outcome.

Hbss woman needs to eat nourishing foods with a good amount of fruits and vegetables incorporated into her diet. She should register for ante natal care as soon as she discovers that she's pregnant so she can have adequate supervision.

FALSE. With good care and good motivation by the paent, Hbss have lived up to 70 and above.

FALSE.

Physical exercises are not recommended due to increase oxygen demand, but board games would give recreaon too.

Yes. it is possible

The haematologist is specialized in the care of SCA, so he's in a position to give the best to the Hbss child.

Not advisable because of the side effects of the enhancing drugs.

By education of the public, also SCA patients coming together in groups or clubs which will help them to improve their self esteem and boost their confidence that they are not outcasts.

(a) They can choose to adopt rather procreate
(b) They could do Hbss screening during pregnancy and abort Hbss foetus and allow non SS pregnancies to mature.

Daily life is affected by SCA because it's a constant battle to avoid trigger factors

Banana is a good source of energy but is high in potassium so it should be consumed in moderate quantity.

Yes, There are some herbs which patients claim have anti- sickling properties and also some which correct anaemia but documented studies to back up these claims are not readily available.

By education of Hbss patients and by legislature i.e. making it difficult to access addictive drugs over the counter.

If treated on time does not affect fertility. If prolonged, can lead to tissue damage which can result in erectile dysfunction.

Its an African problem because the S gene protects against plasmodium falciparum infection which is prevalent in Africa in the sub-saharan region.

SCA can be prevented if two people who carry the defective gene do not procreate.

Hbs can marry Hbs on the condition that they will not have biological children so as not to produce more Hbss.

It does with good management and adequate nutrition.

Yes they can but in moderation because so drinks are loaded with sugar. Too much sugar leads to diabetes which we don't want to add to the problems associated with SCA.

Any individual with chronic illness gets fed up once a while with all the do's and don'ts. Living with chronic pain is bound to affect one's personality one way or the other.

Any job that they have the flare/talent for which doesn't require too much physical activity.

The yellow pigment which stains the white of the eyes is bilirubin, a bye product of red cell degeneration.

It is not advisable because oxygen requirement is increased during sporting activity and Hbs is already in a state of chronic anemia.

Apply ice pack, take a shower or take a walk.

AVN – is Avascular Necrosis of the head of femur. It happens when there's blockage of the single artery that supplies the head of femur by sickle cell agglutination which prevents supply of blood and oxygen to the head of femur. This then dies and crumbles, resulting in shortening of the limb due to the compressed femoral head. Analgesics, traction to relieve the pressure due to impaction at the hip joint help the pain a little, but total hip replacement surgery is the ulmate soluon to AVN.

I do not recommend any blood tonic. Use of blood tonic could lead to iron overload (polychromasia). Would rather encourage Hbss to eat nourishing foods with fruits and vegetables everyday. The body will absorb according to its needs and excess will be excreted rather than taking blood tonics.

Female Hbss paents lose blood every month during the menstrual cycle making them more suscepble to anaemia, but young boys generally forget the limitaon in exercise tending to play with their mates when they're not ill, so its balanced.

When the individual is mentally and physically matured enough to handle the stress of living with another adult who is not from your family of origin.

It is the 5th decade of life like for any other Nigerian.

Yes, because what they lack in physical energy they make up by using their brains.

Yes, it can

Balanced diet in addition to fresh fruits and vegetable and pushing oral fluids so as to avoid dehydration.

Complications of sickle cell anaemia depend on where the clumping of sickle red cells and blockage of the artery occurs. This can happen in any organ of the body.

Management is to take care of pain and correct anaemia. Avoid trigger factors so as to minimize the number of crisis. Permanent solution is for 2 partners who are carriers of the trait not to procreate. For those already born, they have the choice of taking drugs daily and bone marrow/stem cell transplant.