What can be done about sickle cell disease?
Medical management can reduce the burden of misery and premature death due to sickle cell disease. In the developed world, we treat patients with vitamins that ameliorate the anemia, aggressive hydration, which prevents sickling, antibiotics and vaccines for infection, analgesics for pain and, most importantly, education encouraging patients to seek medical attention early when complications arise. Of particular benefit is a drug called hydroxyurea, which inhibits sickling and has had a major positive impact. As a result of these measures, the life span of affected patients has increased considerably. The situation is very different in developing countries with a high prevalence of sickle cell disease and where most of these modalities have not been available. Hydroxyurea has not been used extensively outside of developed countries. Zambia. Zambia is a Sub-Saharan African country with typical problems of poverty, malnutrition and an HIV epidemic. But it is peaceful and politically stab
