Nursery World - A Unique Child Health: A Doctor's Diary ... Sickle cell anaemia

It is vital parents and carers of children with this devastating condition understand its complications, says Dr Raj Thakkar.

'Doctor, my baby has been diagnosed with sickle cell anaemia, and I don't understand what this means.'

Sickle cell anaemia, which is screened for in the UK, is a potentially devastating disease that needs a huge amount of education, vigilance and care from doctors, nurses, teachers and family. Its management is complex and beyond the scope of this article. Suffice to say, it is crucial that those looking after children with sickle cell disease understand its potential complications and the need to seek medical advice whenever problems arise.

Anaemia, of all types, is defined as a reduction in haemoglobin, the iron-protein structure that allows red blood cells to carry oxygen around the body. While the most common type is iron deficiency, often caused by poor diet or excess blood loss, sickle cell anaemia is different in that it has a genetic basis, inherited from abnormalities in parental genes.

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