By Elizabeth Elakeche | Project Leader
Dear friends,
Today, I wanted to share with you one of the most devastating but least talked about complication of sickle cell disease.
Children living with sickle cell disease face many dangers, but one of the most devastating is stroke. Without preventive care, about 1 in 9 children with sickle cell anemia (HbSS) will suffer an overt ischemic stroke before adulthood, with the peak incidence between ages 2 and 10. For children between 2 and 18 years, this risk remains significantly higher than in the general population.
The reason stroke risk is high in children with sickle cell disease
Sickle cell disease causes red blood cells to become rigid and sickleshaped. These cells can block major brain arteries, reducing or stopping blood flow and triggering stroke. Elevated bloodflow velocities in these arteries—measured by Transcranial Doppler (TCD) are a strong, validated predictor of stroke risk in children with sickle cell anemia.
However most families struggling to feed let alone afford preventive care such as Transcranial Doppler screen.
Your donation will help us bring Transcranial Doppler screening closer to the children who need it most. With your support, we can cover the cost of biannual TCD scans at the nearest tertiary hospital, ensuring that children at high risk are identified early and protected from preventable strokes.
Thank you
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