World Sickle Cell Day 2020

World Sickle Cell Awareness Day is observed on June 19 every year. The international awareness day is observed annually with the goal to increase public knowledge and an understanding of sickle cell disease, and the challenges experienced by patients and their families and caregivers.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz 2020

Key-Points

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of blood disorders typically inherited from a person’s parents. The most common type is known as sickle cell anaemia (SCA). It results in an abnormality in the oxygen-carrying protein haemoglobin found in red blood cells.

It is characterized by a modification in the shape of the red blood cell from a smooth, donut-shape into a crescent or half-moon shape.

These cells lack plasticity and can block small blood vessels, impairing blood flow. This condition leads to shortened red blood cell survival, and subsequent anaemia, often called sickle-cell anaemia.

This leads to chronic acute pain syndromes, severe bacterial infections, and necrosis (tissue death).

It can be managed by simple procedures including high fluid intake, healthy diet, folic acid/Iron supplementation, pain medication, vaccination and antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of infections and a number of other therapeutic measures.