1 minute read
Sickle Cell Awareness Month
from Bulletin 092621
by SPBC
SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL SICLKLE CELL AWARENESS MONTH
The theme for this year is Advancing Sickle Cell Disease Research, aims to bring greater visibility to blood safety, as well as to the diagnosis, treatment and management, of blood disease.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) • Sickle cell disease occurs among 1 out of every 365 Black or African American births. • Sickle cell disease occurs among 1 out of every 16,400 Hispanic American births. • About 1 in 13 Black or African American babies is born with sickle cell trait.
What Is sickle cell disease?
Sickle cell disease is a genetic condition that affects the body’s red blood cells, it occurs when a child receives to sickle cell genes one from each parent. In someone living with the disease, the red blood cells become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool called a “sickle”. The pain experienced by people living with sickle cell disease can vary in intensity and last for a few hours to a few hours to a few weeks.
Who is affected by sickle cell disease?
While the disease is most common among African Americans, other racial and ethnic groups are affected, including Latinos and other people of Middle Eastern, Indian, Asian and Mediterranean backgrounds.
How is sickle cell disease diagnosed and treated? Is there a cure?
Sickle cell disease is most often discovered at birth during routine newborn screenings test at the hospital. There is no single best treatment for all people with sickle cell disease treatment options are different for each person,
Currently, the only cure for sickle cell disease is a bone marrow or stem cell transplant. However, these treatment options come with serious risks, require a close donor match (like a sibling) and are used I severe cases.
Clinical trials related to a sickle cell disease cure will work for all patients are being conducted as part of the Nation Institutes of Health Cure Sickle Cell Initiative. The goal of this initiative is to advance the development of new gene and cell-based therapies for sickle cell disease.
