Disease manifestation, assessment and management of sickle cell disease
- Oni, Lola
- Walters, Joan
- Bishop, Michelle
- Tonkin, Emma T
Abstract
This article, the second in a series of four on sickle cell disease and beta thalassaemia, focuses on nursing assessment and care and management issues for people with clinically significant sickle cell disease. This includes how to manage infection and pain, which are the most common clinical problems associated with sickle cell disease, accounting for more than 90% of acute hospital admissions.
This article has been double-blind peer reviewed
In this article…
Recognition and management of acute chest syndrome, a complication of sickle cell disease
The nurse's role in pain assessment and management, including use of pain assessment scales
Treatments for sickle cell disease, including bone marrow transplant and gene therapy
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Key points
Sickle cell disease affects the haemoglobin in red blood cells, with multisystemic effects
Vaso-occlusive crisis is the most common reason for hospital admission in adults and children, with fever being another main presenting symptom in children
The nurse has a pivotal role in assessing sickle cell pain, side-effects of treatment and complications
The importance of ongoing psychosocial and community support for people with sickle cell disease should be recognised
The world's first gene therapy for sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta thalassaemia for patients over 12 years old has been approved