Sickle-cell disease or SCD is a disease related to blood, which comes from the child genetically by both their parents or both. There are not enough amounts of red blood cells (RBC / Red Blood Cells) in this disease, which are necessary for carrying oxygen in the body. Usually, this disease is found in Africa, Arabia, and the Indian peninsula.
Dr. Amita Mahajan, Senior Consultant, Pediatric Oncology and Hematology in Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals said, "If one of the parents has a gene of sickle salon then the child is likely to have this disease, ie, these children are having hemoglobin A gene is normal, but the second gene is defective. Such children have both hemoglobin in the body - normal hemoglobin and c. Ile cell hemoglobin. There may be some sickle cells, but usually, there are no signs of illness. "
They said, "These children are the carriers of the disease, that is, their faulty genes can go into their children in the next generation. If both parents have a gene of disease, then the child definitely suffers from the disease."
He said that the sickle-gene was first introduced in the hills of Nilgiri in northern Tamilnadu in 1952, today it is present in a large number of people in the Deccan Plateau of Central India. It has some extent even in the northern areas of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. These genes are present in a large number of tribal people in northern Kerala and Tamil Nadu, it is believed that the probability of HBS genes is more in a tribal population. However, it is found in both tribal and non-tribal populations.
Dr. Amita Mahajan told about its symptoms, "Hemoglobin is not sufficient in patients with sickle cell disease, in these cases, these patients need to be blooded." From the first year of life, The symptoms of the disease are the pain, swelling with pain in the pains, repeated pneumonia, hands and feet, swelling in the spleen / spleen (organ that helps in fighting infection) Stroke, difficulty in seeing, developing the body properly or other complications in the bones. "
Describing the treatment, he said, "It should be tried that patients suffering from this disease should not have dehydration or oxygen deficiency, they should drink plenty of water, such patients should take special care during the visit to high mountain areas. These patients should be regularly exposed to the human pathologist. To protect yourself from pneumonia, the vaccine, antibiotic, and excessive Folic acid should be taken. "
Hydroxyurea is beneficial for these patients, this reduces the need for blood transfusions frequently, episodes of pain often decrease and the likelihood of other complications related to stroke and disease also decreases.
Dr. Amita Mahajan said, "At present, screening programs have been started for the investigation of newborn infants in many parts of the country so that the children suffering from the disease can be identified at the earliest and the right treatment can be started on time. If such a gene is found in a family member, then it should be examined in the next pregnancy when the family gets informed on time, the family has an option of abortion. "
He said, "With the current options of treatment the patient can lead a good life and he can be saved from the symptoms of the disease, especially pain."