As most parents know, many children can be picky eaters and getting them to eat their fruits and vegetables has challenged parents for many decades. Especially for those youngsters diagnosed with SCD (Sickle Cell Disease), it is often associated with low calcium intake, vitamin D deficiency and a poor appetite, which can lead to delayed growth and development in any child. If your kid is getting plenty of vitamin C and D, that’s fantastic, but as we all know, they also need to be eating well-balanced meals and getting other important nutrients. As parents, we’ve all used tricks to get our kids to eat, from the old airplane into the hanger routine as infants, to giving them chocolate milk so they’ll actually drink some, but sugary substitutes aren’t the answer. Abstract source

People with sickle cell trait can donate blood, organs, and tissues. Yet fear and commonly held misperceptions keep them from donating to those whose lives may very well depend on it. Education is needed to eliminate these myths and ease people’s fears.Giving people the facts about blood, organ, and tissue donation can increase levels and frequency of donation, and, ultimately, save lives. Yes. If you have sickle cell trait, you are still are able to donate blood. There is no evidence to suggest that donating blood causes any additional risk of harm or injury to people with sickle cell trait. Your medical history is more relevant in deciding whether you are eligible to donate blood than your having sickle cell trait. If you have concerns about whether you are able to donate blood, talk to your doctor.   Abstract source

Common illnesses, like the flu, can quickly become dangerous for a person with sickle cell disease. The best defense is to take simple steps to help prevent infections. 1. Washing Hands. Washing your hands is one of the best ways to help prevent getting an infection. People with sickle cell disease, their family, and other caretakers should wash their hands with soap and clean water many times each day. If you don’t have soap and water, you can use gel hand cleaners with alcohol in them. Times to wash your hands: BEFORE • Making food • Eating AFTER • Using the bathroom • Blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing • Shaking hands • Touching people or things that can carry germs, such as: -- Diapers or a child who has used the toilet -- Food that is not cooked (raw meat, raw eggs, or unwashed vegetables) -- Animals or animal waste -- Trash -- A sick person   Abstract source

Patients with sickle cell anemia have greater than average requirements for both calories and micronutrients. During sickle cell crises, energy intake can be especially poor. Children frequently hospitalized for sickle cell disease (SCD) commonly show poor linear growth, lean body mass, and reduced fat-free mass. For reasons that are poorly understood, many patients are deficient in essential micronutrients. A diet emphasizing fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes will provide a greater proportion of essential nutrients than a typical Western diet, and appropriate supplementation (1-3 times the recommended intakes for most essential nutrients) can prevent deficiency and may decrease the likelihood of disease exacerbation.   Abstract source

A balanced diet is a diet that includes foods from all of the five major food groups and oils. Each of the different food groups provides our bodies with important nutrients. Avoiding any one food group places individuals at risk for less than optimal nutrition. With Sickle Cell Disease it is especially important to eat a balanced diet to make sure that we give our body the energy, fiber and vitamins and minerals that it needs to keep us healthy. • Grains like whole grain breads, rice, pastas, cereals and crackers contain fiber that helps to reduce blood cholesterol and keeps our bowels moving, folate that helps our body make new red blood cells, vitamin B that helps our body to use the energy from foods that we eat, magnesium for healthy bones, selenium for healthy immune system. • Vegetables like spinach, carrots, broccoli, tomato, green beans contain fiber, folate, vitamin A that helps to keep eyes and skin healthy and helps to protect against infections, vitamin C helps heal wounds and keeps teeth and gums healthy, potassium helps in maintaining healthy blood pressure. Abstract source

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), also called Sickle Cell Anemia, is a genetic red blood cell disorder that causes blood cells to take on a sickle or crescent shape. In the U.S., SCD is most common among African Americans and Hispanic Americans. People with SCD often experience episodes of pain, fatigue and frequent infections. SCD is associated with low calcium intake, vitamin D deficiency and poor appetite. All of these can lead to delayed growth and development in children.If your child gets enough calcium, keep up the good work! However, calcium alone is not enough. Calcium is effective at building strong bones only if your child also gets enough vitamin D. Emory University Associate Professor of Pediatrics Dr. Ify Osunkwo explains, "Many sickle cell disease patients are vitamin D deficient due to their darker skin, lack of dairy intake and limited sun exposure. If they drink milk, are out in the sun and open to eating dairy, they tend to fare better." Abstract source

This resource is designed to provide teachers, school nurses, and other school personnel, with information about sickle cell disease. Having this information may make you more comfortable with the child with sickle cell disease in your classroom or school. This information may also give you some insights into the school-related needs of these children, allowing you to provide the best opportunities and services to fit each child's needs. Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder of which there are several types, the most common being Sickle Cell Anemia (Hb SS Disease). Approximately 1 in 400 African-American babies are born with Sickle Cell Anemia. Another type is Sickle C Disease. Approximately 1 in 1000 African-American babies have Sickle C Disease. Sickle Beta Thalassemia is another type of SCD. SCD is found predominantly in the African-American population but is also seen in people of other ethnic groups. These ethnic groups include individuals from parts of the Middle East, Central India, and countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, especially Italy and Greece. In light of these statistics, you are likely to have a student with some form of Sickle Cell Disease in your school or classroom. Abstract source

What if both parents have beta thalassemia trait? If both the parents have beta thalassemia trai, there is a 25 percent (1 in 4) chance with each pregnancy of having a child with beta thalassemia disease. The amount of hemoglobin produced determine whether a person has : Beta thalassemia intermedia or Beta thalassemia major disease. Beta thalassemia major is also called Cooley's anemia. Beta thalassemia is a lifelong illness that can cause serious health problems. People with this disease need medical treatment. Abstract source

What is beta thalassemia trait? Beta thalassemia affects the hemoglobin in the red blood cells. All red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body. People with beta thalassemia do not make enough hemoglobin. People with beta thalassemia trait have both normal hemoglobin A and the abnormal beta thalassemia (β) hemoglobin in their red blood cells. Beta thalassemia is common in people of African, Mediterranean, Asian and Middle Eastern descent. People with beta thalassemia trait do not have beta thalassemia disease or sickle cell disease. They cannot develop these diseases later in life. They can pass beta thalassemia trait to their children. Abstract source

Sickle Beta Zero Thalassemia (Sickle BA-ta zero thal-a-SEE-me-a) is similar to sickle cell anemia. Your child's red blood cells contain abnormal hemoglobin, called "hemoglobin S" or "sickle hemoglobin". In addition, the red blood cells have a defect called thalassemia, which results in cells that are small in size and more pale than usual. Instead of appearing round or donut shaped, your child's red blood cells are somewhat small, pale, and misshapen. Some may appear sickled or banana shaped. Because sickle beta zero thalassemia is inherited, it is a lifelong disorder. There is no treatment or cure. Your child will always have a mild anemia or slightly low blood count. This may result in occasional tiredness or weakness. Abstract source