The Sickle Cell Support Group held its first quarterly meeting of the year Tuesday, 20 March.
Convened in the Public Health section of the Health Services Authority, attendees first watched an informative film from the Jamaican Sickle Cell Trust titled About Sickle Cell.
The 35-minute video, gave an overview of the disorder of which there are four main types but several variants.
Persons with sickle cell anemia and those with the trait attended the meeting along with the HSA’s Genetic Coordinator Joy Merren and Coordinator of the Authority’s General Practice Clinic Dr. Anna Matthews.
According to Mrs. Merren, those with sickle cell shared their experiences with the rest of the group. Discussions highlighted various coping strategies and how the severity of the condition varies among individuals irrespective of what type of sickle cell they had.
The support group also spent time getting fully up to speed with the condition know as Avascular Necrosis of the hip.
Ms Matthews, who was present to offer medical advice and information, confirmed that though not exclusive to sickle cell sufferers, the ailment disproportionately affected carriers. Attendees were informed that the condition, caused when not enough oxygen travels to the hip, in some cases led to death of the head of the hip bone resulting in the need for a hip replacement.
The doctor also mentioned that any stress on the system can cause sufferers, and sometimes those with the trait, to have painful crises in the legs, joints and abdomen.
She advised that during such incidents, blood cells sickled – blocking the blood vessels. Ms Matthews said that such congestion led to reduced oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and hampered the removal of waste matter from the body.
She also spoke about how high altitude, infections and changes in temperature could sometimes precipitate crises even with those who did not have the disease but who had the trait.
‘Someone can have the trait and not know. If you’re getting married it is good to be tested to find out whether you and/or your partner have the trait, to know whether you have a chance of having a child with sickle cell.’
Sickle Cell Anemia affects 30 people known to the Cayman Islands Public Health Department.
For further information about the Sickle Cell Support Group call Mrs. Merren at 244-2630.
Related Videos
