What is Sickle Cell Aneamia & Thalassemia?

Who does it affect:
Sickle Cell is one of the most commonly inherited serious genetic disorders in the world and affects affects millions of people.
It is common among people  from Africa; Spanish-speaking regions (South America, the Caribbean, and Central America); Saudi Arabia; India; and Mediterranean countries such as Turkey, Greece, and Italy.

What is it:
Sickle cell & thalassaemia is a serious and lifelong condition, long-term treatment can help manage many of the problems associated with it. It is a disorder that affects hemoglobin, the molecule in red blood cells that deliver oxygen to cells throughout the body. People with this disorder have atypical hemoglobin molecules called hemoglobin S, which can distort red blood cells into a sickle, or crescent shape.

Signs and symptoms of sickle cell disease usually begin in early childhood and include:
- Low number of red blood cells (anemia).
- Repeated infections
- Periodic episodes of chronic pain

The severity of symptoms varies from person to person. Some people have mild symptoms, while others are frequently hospitalized for more serious complications. The signs and symptoms of sickle cell disease are caused by the sickling of red blood cells. When red blood cells sickle, they break down prematurely, which can lead to anemia. Anemia can cause shortness of breath, fatigue, and delayed growth and development in children.

Painful episodes can occur when sickled red blood cells, which are stiff and inflexible, get stuck in small blood vessels. These episodes deprive tissues and organs of oxygen-rich blood and can lead to organ damage, especially in the lungs, kidneys, spleen, and brain. A particularly serious complication of sickle cell disease is high blood pressure in the blood vessels that supply the lungs (pulmonary hypertension). Pulmonary hypertension occurs in about one-third of adults with sickle cell disease and can lead to heart failure.

How can we make a difference ?
Crescent Kids aims to work towards a cure for children with Sickle Cell and Thalasseamia. A higher quality of medical care is required and is achievable. We want to be able to take away the pain episodes experienced by millions of children around the world.

If we can do what the medical world has done for HIV we will be very happy people. Currently a sickle cell sufferer has to endure chronic pain; current treatment is IV fluids, IV pain relief or regular Blood transfusions. These treatments are administered during hospital admissions and typically require a stay in hospital of between 5 - 10 days as a minimum. The only known cure currently is a bone marrow transplant via ideally a matched donor . The drain on the healthcare system is substantial, we believe there are better ways of managing this pain or ceasing pain episodes.

So we are funding research into crucial studies into future cures. Please help us stop the pain