Quote:
Originally Posted by Allona
Does anyone here have sickle-cell anemia? I've always wondered about how it feels (not physically, but psychologically). How does it feel to be sort of handicapped, but to know that some diseases don't really effect you as much as other people?
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I do not have sickle cell anemia. But I work with a sickle cell anemia outreach group. Typically, the psychological symptoms range from asymptomatic to migraine headaches. Some psychological work has been researched, but not nearly enough. There are neurological problems with sickle cell disease, not necessarily with the trait.
If you go to WebMD or to the National Institutes of Health with Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute it discusses what the "typical" symptoms can be.
Sickle cell is debilitating with it "flairs up" when there are episodes, it is generally not called a disability, such as limb or neurological disability, although the resulting symptoms are debilitating. Handicap is an inappropriate word to describe these symptoms.
The last part, I guess you are referring to "malaria" protection? Having sickle cell disease is not completely protective against malaria parasite infection. In fact, if a child does not develop hypertension with vascularopathy or vascularitis, they definitely have a high risk of leukemias and other cancers, as well as stroke and aneurysm. There is a increased risk of HIV infection if risky behaviors are practiced. The anti-HIV drugs only alleviate the opportunistic infections, but not the sickle cell anemia disease...
Sincerely,
Dr. AKA_Monet
GC Hospital Chief