WHAT IS SICKLE CELL DISEASE?
Although commonly associated with Africans and African Americans, sickle cell disease is an inherited disorder of the red blood cells which also afflicts persons of many ethnic origins, including those of Hispanic, Greek, Italian, Sicilian, Turkish, Arabic and Portuguese heritage, among others.
Sickle cell disease is quietly devastating. Its symptoms can occur in any part of the body. Persons with the disease are extremely vulnerable to infections. They may also suffer from jaundice, deterioration of joints, kidney infections, growth retardation, recurrent severe pain episodes, strokes, blindness and a shortened life expectancy. Sickle cell disease can lead to other ailments. These include strokes, kidney and liver problems.
Because it does not receive the notoriety of some other hereditary diseases with a much lower incidence, sickle cell anemia might best be described as a silent illness. Silent not only from the standpoint of not receiving an undue amount of media coverage, but also because many of its victims do not display the outward signs associated with someone with a serious illness.
For these reasons, one of our primary goals is community education. Only through education can the general public become aware of the dangers of sickle cell disease; the suffering it inflicts upon those stricken with it and the importance of testing for the trait or carrier state. Throughout the years, education has been one of the most extensive and important components of the organization's programs
A variety of resources are used to disseminate information on the latest medical developments to the general public, sickle cell patients and their families.
Information on sickle cell disease is now readily available through films, printed materials and tapes. We also supply materials to students, doctors, nurses, technicians and other health professionals through our collection of reprints from medical journals and other sources. Every year this collection grows, performing an important service to the community.
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