Question
How should a child with sickle cell anemia be treated?
Answer
Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disease primarily affecting the red blood cell’s glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD). Children with sickle cell anemia can become ill after consuming fava beans, fava bean products, or coming into contact with fava bean pollen, or after taking sulfonamide, quinine, antipyretic and analgesic medications. Treatment methods for sickle cell anemia include supportive treatments such as blood transfusions and infection control. For mothers with sickle cell anemia who are breastfeeding newborns with the disease, the nursing mother should avoid consuming fava beans, fava bean products, sulfonamide, quinine, and antipyretic and analgesic medications. Additionally, parents should pay attention to not allow their children to develop picky eating habits, maintain a balanced diet, and seek timely treatment from a doctor.