There is a low level of healthy red blood cells in children who have sickle cell anemia. They are ill because these blood cells are not providing the necessary function of carrying oxygen to all body parts. Coping with this disease is difficult. Sickle cell charities for children help the victims and their families.
This disease cannot be cured, but, in most cases the pain can be reduced. The signs of the disorder show up after a baby is four months old. They include a pain crisis, fatigue, swollen feet and hands and visual problems due to damaged retinas.
If not diagnosed during infancy, the symptoms may be exhibited during childhood. It should be considered an emergency situation of he or she has severe abdominal pain or swelling, a yellow color to skin or eyes, fever or symptoms usually associated with stroke. These would include partial paralysis on one side of the face or body.
If only one parent carries the gene, the child will not be stricken. Both parents must have it in order to have a baby with overt symptoms. If only one carries it, their baby may still pass the defect on to their own children in the future.
This is true because not all the children with two parents who have the gene will show the symptoms although they do have the gene. In the case of two parents with the defect, there is a fifty-percent possibility of their baby being a carrier. Not all who are carriers become ill.
It can result in the death of the stricken infant or child. Watch for symptoms of a stroke, which occurs when the dysfunctional red blood cells block the flow of blood to the brain. Numbness in the arms and legs will be noticeable. Speech disorders may become evident.
Another possible concern is high blood pressure in the lungs indicating pulmonary hypertension. The baby or child will be short of breath. The breathing pattern will be labored.
Pulmonary hypertension can develop. This is evidenced by high blood pressure in the lungs. It shows up as difficult breathing including shortness of breath.
If the flow of oxygen to the kidneys, spleen or liver is blocked these organs can break down. Excessive bilirubin can build up in the liver, for example. When these major organs stop functioning, it can result in death.
Blindness is another possible result. The disease can cause obstruction of the tiny blood vessels that take oxygen to the eyes. Vision can be lost completely. Gallstones may develop in the gall bladder because of an abnormal increase in the bilirubin level.
There is help for these children from well-known charities. Physicians specializing in hematology and specially trained nurses are devoted to providing medical care for them. A relatively new treatment that has been developed is stem-cell transplanting surgery.
One medical facility has been researching sickle cell since 1962. It is the recipient of research grants and donations from organizations and individuals. The afflicted child and family are treated without monetary contribution.
There is no cure for this genetic disorder. It can only be prevented. Potential parents from the ethnic groups affected can be tested to determine if they carry the gene. If both have this genetic defect, they can decide not to have babies who may live a life of illness and suffering.
This disease cannot be cured, but, in most cases the pain can be reduced. The signs of the disorder show up after a baby is four months old. They include a pain crisis, fatigue, swollen feet and hands and visual problems due to damaged retinas.
If not diagnosed during infancy, the symptoms may be exhibited during childhood. It should be considered an emergency situation of he or she has severe abdominal pain or swelling, a yellow color to skin or eyes, fever or symptoms usually associated with stroke. These would include partial paralysis on one side of the face or body.
If only one parent carries the gene, the child will not be stricken. Both parents must have it in order to have a baby with overt symptoms. If only one carries it, their baby may still pass the defect on to their own children in the future.
This is true because not all the children with two parents who have the gene will show the symptoms although they do have the gene. In the case of two parents with the defect, there is a fifty-percent possibility of their baby being a carrier. Not all who are carriers become ill.
It can result in the death of the stricken infant or child. Watch for symptoms of a stroke, which occurs when the dysfunctional red blood cells block the flow of blood to the brain. Numbness in the arms and legs will be noticeable. Speech disorders may become evident.
Another possible concern is high blood pressure in the lungs indicating pulmonary hypertension. The baby or child will be short of breath. The breathing pattern will be labored.
Pulmonary hypertension can develop. This is evidenced by high blood pressure in the lungs. It shows up as difficult breathing including shortness of breath.
If the flow of oxygen to the kidneys, spleen or liver is blocked these organs can break down. Excessive bilirubin can build up in the liver, for example. When these major organs stop functioning, it can result in death.
Blindness is another possible result. The disease can cause obstruction of the tiny blood vessels that take oxygen to the eyes. Vision can be lost completely. Gallstones may develop in the gall bladder because of an abnormal increase in the bilirubin level.
There is help for these children from well-known charities. Physicians specializing in hematology and specially trained nurses are devoted to providing medical care for them. A relatively new treatment that has been developed is stem-cell transplanting surgery.
One medical facility has been researching sickle cell since 1962. It is the recipient of research grants and donations from organizations and individuals. The afflicted child and family are treated without monetary contribution.
There is no cure for this genetic disorder. It can only be prevented. Potential parents from the ethnic groups affected can be tested to determine if they carry the gene. If both have this genetic defect, they can decide not to have babies who may live a life of illness and suffering.
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When you are looking for information about sickle cell charities for children, pay a visit to the web pages online here today. You can see details at http://www.nakleebrisbane.org now.
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