The terms “sickle cell crisis” or “sickling crisis” may be used to describe several independent acute conditions occurring in patients with SCD (Sickle cell disease).
SCD results in anaemia and crises that could be of many types including the vaso-occlusive crisis, aplastic crisis, sequestration crisis, haemolytic crisis and others.
Most episodes of sickle cell crises last between five and seven days. “Although infection, dehydration, and acidosis (all of which favor sickling) can act as triggers, in most instances, no predisposing cause is identified.”
Vaso-occlusive crisis
The vaso-occlusive crisis is caused by sickle-shaped red blood cells that obstruct capillaries and restrict blood flow to an organ resulting in ischaemia, pain, necrosis, and often organ damage.
The frequency, severity, and duration of these crises vary considerably. Painful crises are treated with hydration, analgesics, and blood transfusion; pain management requires opioid administration at regular intervals until the crisis has settled.
Others include, splenic sequestring crisis, acute chest syndrome among others.
How to prevent crisis in individuals with sickle cell.
Firstly due to the fact that the majority reason of crisis in a SC patient is the blockage of the blood vessels causing poor circulation and vasoclusive crisis in the part of the body short of circulation. Hydration is the first approach of crisis prevention.
1) Water therapy /hydration
Every individual living with SC is advised to take at least 3-4ltrs of fluids/water a day to help their circulation and prevent crisis.
2) Mental and emotional balance
Our psychological state is very paramount and important in prevention of crisis in sickle cell patient, due to the fact that most SC patient face stigmatization, rejection and also depression, their pyschological state most time drive them to crisis.
It is advised that they should prevent any thing that could cause the above listed and it more from their care givers ,friends and family, they should be loved and assured that SC is not the end of life.
3) Daily drugs
Another important way to prevent crisis is to make sure their(SC patients) take their drugs daily such folic acid, B- complex, Paludrine and any other specially prescribed drugs, please make sure you use them daily as prescribed. Some patients are place on hydroxyurea.
4) Prevention of Malaria
Malaria on it itself causes a lot of deaths yearly so everyone should prevent malaria. In the case of sickle cell patient, a mosquito bite can send a patient to crisis within days and also have malaria, it is advised to take malaria prophylaxis drugs such as Paludrine which prevents malaria.
Also the use of mosquito repellents ,nets and also ensuring a clean hygiene of the environment to prevent a breeding ground for mosquitoes is very effective.
5) Controlled Lifestyle
It very good to study yourself and know and understand what triggers your crisis, like high and low weather, very hot and very cold days, too much exercise, stress etc all this are bad for a sickle cell patient, so it advised to learn and understand what makes you go into crisis.
6) Diet
Eat consciously, eat balanced diet, include fruits and vegetables in your meals.
This are the major ways of preventing sickle cell crisis, with this you are assured of not having to visit the hospital anytime soon.
Remember you’re a survivor and a warrior and never let anything bring you down.
Continue to sickle strong and live a healthy life, happy world sickle cell day.
This article was written by Oworu Timilehin
About the Author
Oworu Timilehin Führer, a 500l Radiography student of College of Medicine University of Lagos, who is passionate about health, leadership , also a prolific diversify writer and highly passionate about the sickle cell community in Nigeria and the world at large .
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