Thursday, October 9, 2014

Info On Sickle Cell Charities For Kids

By Jocelyn Davidson


Sickle-cell anemia and sickle-cell disease, or SCA and SCD, are the medical terms for a hereditary blood disorder of humans. This disorder is marked by red blood cells with rigidness and abnormalities. They are shaped like sickles and this sickling reduces the flexibility of cells. In turn, people with this condition are at a higher risk of life-threatening conditions. The disorder is brought on by mutant genes producing abnormal and normal hemoglobin. The many sickle cell charities for kids are designed to raise money to help with research and treatments for those with this problem.

People with this condition are known to have a shorter life than those without. The life-expectancy age for men or women with this condition used to be only 50 years old. Now, there have been advances in management, knowledge and technology that have increased the life expectancy. Patients with this have lived well into their 70s and sometimes beyond.

These kids charities often raise funds so that more medical studies and research can be done. They are also used as a platform to bring about awareness, as this disorder afflicts a lot of people. This might also include teaching sufferers about this condition and the many solutions available to them for management.

Many complications are associated with SCD. People who have this condition are more likely to have osteomyelitis, a decreased immune system, acute papillary necrosis, leg ulcers, opiod intolerance, cholelithiasis, bacterial infections, stroke and more. Most of these problems are preventable and can be healed with care and good lifestyle choices. There are several care options available to those suffering with this disorder, including transfusion therapy, bone marrow transplants and hydroxyurea.

Charities can put the donations they are given toward many different benefits and programs. Usually, they are focused on supporting medical research, providing the public information, advocacy, and professional education. It is essential to look into all of the charities to guarantee that the money is going to the correct source. Most charities share the desire to find a cure for this disease that is inherited.

The first recording of this condition is believed to come from an autopsy report that dates back to the 1800s. The 1900s was a time in which more people in different areas of the world were being seen with this problem. Nowadays, this afflicts all types of people. However, it is more commonly seen among those who derive from East India, Africa, and Mediterranean or Middle Eastern regions.

Diagnosis is done at birth with a blood test that is commonly done for newborn screening. Kids that test positive will be given a follow-up test, known as hemoglobin electrophoresis, to confirm the diagnosis. People with the disease are prone to infections and medical complications. This is why diagnosis and management are important early on.

Kids should receive regular care and attention from a doctor, as well as a hematologist. There are certain clinics that deal only with sickle-cell patient care. Health education is a must for these children as they grow up. Charities strive to provide sufferers with helpful resources, while still raising funds to put toward finding a cure.




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