How is Sickle Cell Disease Treated?
Most individuals with sickle cell disease are generally well from day-to-day. However, babies and young children with sickle cell disease should take oral penicillin twice a day, beginning as soon as sickle cell anemia is diagnosed and continuing until at least 5 years of age. This penicillin can prevent fatal pneumococcal infection. If complications of the sickle cell disease occur, patients are treated and supported until they get better. For example, painful episodes are treated with pain medications and fluids. Blood transfusions are used to treat some of the complications of sickle cell disease. Transfusions correct anemia by increasing the number of normal red blood cells in circulation. Problems from sickle cell disease can also be prevented. For example, regular (monthly) blood transfusions can prevent strokes in children as well as prevent pain and other complications of the disease.. The medicine hydroxyurea can also lower the frequency of painful episodes and of acute chest
