Preventing infections
If you have sickle cell anemia, you received the gene from each of your parents, and if you received the gene from one parent, you are a carrier. However, you can prevent some complications as follows:
Infants or young children have an increased risk of becoming infected with severe types of infections. Because of this, infants with sickle cell anemia are placed on daily penicillin therapy until age 5.
It is also extremely essential that infants receive all the immunizations on schedule to prevent life-threatening infections.
Moreover, subjecting yourself to conditions where the oxygen concentration is low may worsen sickling. It also includes traveling in unpressurized airplanes as well as going to high altitudes.
Furthermore, the patients can also be given medication to help the body create fetal hemoglobin found in newborns. It can also prevent the formation of sickle-shaped cells. However, the long-term effects of medication are still being researched. Parents should talk to the medical team for the best treatment plan for their child.
If young children are diagnosed with these conditions, they are often given an antibiotic to prevent infections. The antibiotics play an effective role in helping fight off infections. Vaccinations, for young children, are also important to help prevent deadly infections.
Individuals with sickle cell anemia receive penicillin, especially the children age between two to five. It will prevent infections such as pneumonia that can be life-threatening to children with sickle cell anemia.
However, adults with sickle cell anemia need to take penicillin throughout their lives if they had pneumonia or surgery to remove the spleen.
Childhood vaccinations are essential for preventing disease in children, and it can be more important for children with sickle cell anemia. However, vaccines are crucial for both children and adults with sickle cell anemia.