The World Sickle Cell Day is observed on 19th June annually, disproportionately drawing attention toward the saga of the billion living with sickle cell disease and advocating for their human rights. This day serves to promote awareness about SCD and to drive advocacy efforts for its early diagnosis, access to effective treatments, and to improve the quality of life for persons affected by this disease. The theme for World Sickle Cell Day 2024 will be: “Hope Through Progress: Advancing Care Globally”. This shows the improvements made in treating and addressing this genetic blood disorder.

Sickle Cell Disease: An Overview

Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder, mainly causing abnormalities in the red blood cells. These are those cells that carry oxygen to various parts of one’s body. Normally, these cells are round in shape and flexible, thus easily movable through blood vessels. However, in those with this condition, the genetic mutation changes the red blood cells from the normal round or oval shape into being sickle-shaped, resembling crescent moons. The abnormal shape renders these cells rigid, sticky, and brings about a number of other problems.

Types of Sickle Cell Disease

The types of sickle cell disease are as follows, in order of their severity:

1. Sickle Cell Anemia (HbSS)—this is the most common form of the disorder. People with this form of SCD inherit two sickle cell genes—one from each parent.
2. Sickle-Hemoglobin C Disease (HbSC)—generally a milder form of SCD. This form of SCD inherits one sickle cell gene and one gene for hemoglobin C.
3. Sickle Beta-Thalassemia (HbSβ+ or HbSβ0): This is a hemoglobinopathy involving one sickle cell gene and one beta-thalassemia gene; severity differs by the type of beta-thalassemia.

Causes, etiology of Sick Cell Disease

It is an inherited genetic disorder. If the child inherits the defected gene from both parents he/ she will suffer from the disease. If they have just one copy of the gene then, in most cases, remain asymptomatic and act as carriers, able to transmit the gene to their children.

Symptoms of Sickle Cell Disease

The symptoms range from mild to severe and include:

– Painful episodes: Due to blocked blood flow, extremely painful episodes occur. These happen during crises.

– Fatigue: Because of a lack of oxygen being transported to tissues.

– Frequent infections: SCD can damage the spleen, which will then increase the risk of infection in patients.

– Shortness of breath: From anemia

– Delayed growth: Children suffering from this disease bear an impact on growth.

Treatment for Sickle Cell Disease

Although till date there has been no universally cured case of the SCD, some treatments do exist, which can relieve the symptoms and improve lives of such patients. These include:

– Pain Medication: Relieving pain in crisis.

– Folic Acid Supplements: Good process of formation of red blood cells.

– Antibiotics: Prevention from infection, mainly for young children.

– Blood Transfusions: It’s used in a severe case to increase the number of normal red blood cells.

Hydroxyurea is a drug known to reduce the frequency of painful crises and other complications.

 Progress in Sickle Cell Care

The theme of World Sickle Cell Day 2024, “Hope Through Progress: Advancing Care Globally,” reflects just how far the field of SCD treatment and care has come. Research into finding a cure continues, and new gene therapy and bone marrow transplant discoveries are giving people so much hope for the future.

World Sickle Cell Day is very critical for making people recognize the incapacitating condition. Lives of those affected by SCD can be improved through promotion of early diagnosis, improved treatments, and ongoing research for the cure. On this day, let us all continue supporting the advancement of care and advocating for the global community of sickle-cell-affected people.