Lesson Category: Chapter 2: Health Maintenance for People With Sickle Cell Disease

Background Young children with SCA have a very high risk for septicemia and meningitis in the absence of appropriate prophylaxis. These infections result from defective…

Screening for Pulmonary Hypertension Background Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is defined as an elevation of the resting mean pulmonary arterial pressure (25 mmHg) as determined by…

Background The electrocardiogram (ECG) may offer diagnostic information to guide clinical decision making. However, there is minimal evidence for the value of obtaining a screening…

Background The “Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure” (INC 7)70 recommends medication for hypertension…

Background All individuals with SCD and especially those with HbSC are at risk for retinal disease due to vaso-occlusion and its resultant ischemia. Proliferative sickle…

Background Stroke is one of the most common and devastating complications of SCD. In the absence of primary stroke prevention, approximately 10 percent of children…

Background Respiratory conditions are found in children with SCD at a prevalence of 20 percent to 48 percent and are associated with an increased risk…

Background The CDC and its partners released a set of recommendations and goals for preconception health. They recommend that women and couples think about their…

Background In women with SCD, regular use of contraception can decrease the health risks associated with an unintended pregnancy. Hormonal contraceptives may also decrease menstrual…

Background People with existing chronic diseases such as SCD may fail to receive some of the recommended clinical preventive services because they and their health…