Question
A child with hereditary spherocytosis is seeking advice from parents about specific medication treatment. The concerns of the parents include: the efficacy of the medication for children, the appropriate time for taking the medication, whether it will affect physical development, and the duration of the drug’s effect after discontinuation. In addition, they also inquire about other better treatment methods.
Answer
Firstly, accurate diagnosis is key to treatment. It is recommended to conduct a bone marrow hematopoietic function test to clearly identify the cause of anemia. If the cause of anemia is unclear, treatment may be affected. Regarding the normality of red blood cell morphology, this is also related to diagnosis. As for the use of hormones, it is usually considered when other treatments are ineffective. However, long-term use of hormones can bring about various side effects, especially on the normal development of children, which may affect bone growth, lead to precocious puberty, and even possibly cause aseptic necrosis of the femoral head in the future.