Treating Sickle Cell Anemia in Children

Your child has been diagnosed with sickle cell anemia. This is an inherited condition. It affects the red blood cells (RBCs), the cells that carry oxygen. Your child will see a pediatric hematologist for treatment. This is a doctor who specializes in blood disorders (hematology). The goal is to help your child manage symptoms and prevent problems. This sheet tells you about treatments your child may receive. Ask your healthcare provider if you have questions this sheet doesn’t answer.

Early treatment for sickle cell anemia often includes daily doses of penicillin to help prevent infections.

Early Treatments

As part of required health screening for newborns, most children are tested for blood disorders like sickle cell anemia. If a diagnosis is confirmed, treatment is started right away. Early treatment includes the following:

• Regular doctor visits. These are needed so the doctor can monitor your child’s symptoms and overall health. During these doctor visits, a physical exam is performed. Routine blood tests are done to check for complications such as anemia or problems with the liver, kidneys, heart, or lungs. And, imaging tests such as a transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound may be done to evaluate the blood flow through blood vessels in the brain. This is to check your child’s risk of stroke.

• Antibiotics. These help prevent dangerous infections. Give them to your child exactly as directed by the doctor.

• Folate. This vitamin may be given to help your child build new RBCs and prevent anemia.

• Vaccinations. Regular vaccinations help protect your child against dangerous infections. Be sure your child gets the pneumococcal, meningococcal, and flu vaccines.

Other Treatments

As your child gets older, treatments may change. Following are treatments that may be added to your child’s treatment plan. Each treatment has specific risks and benefits that the doctor will discuss with you. In severe cases, hospital care will be needed.

• Medications:

  • Hydroxyurea helps make the cells less likely to sickle. This helps prevent complications, such as pain episodes or acute chest syndrome.

  • Pain relievers help manage pain. Over-the-counter pain meds, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, may be given. Prescription strength pain relievers may also be used. And prescription pain medications called narcotics may be given to help manage severe pain.

  • Antibiotics, such as penicillin, help fight infections and illnesses.

• Folate may continue to be prescribed following early childhood to help your child make more RBCs.

• Blood transfusions can:

  • Increase the number of RBCs if anemia is severe

  • Release blood trapped in the spleen

  • Reduce the risk of stroke

• Surgery. In rare cases, the spleen may need to be removed if it is destroying or trapping RBCs. Surgery is also needed to remove the gallbladder if gallstones begin to form.

• Bone marrow transplant. This procedure may be recommended for a child with severe symptoms. It replaces diseased bone marrow cells with healthy cells from a matched donor. You’ll be told more about this treatment if it is needed.

How to Prevent Complications

• Learn and watch for signs and symptoms of illness, infection, or more serious health problems.

• Make sure your child receives all recommended vaccinations.

• Give medications as prescribed by the doctor.

• Have your child drink plenty of fluids.

• Have your child avoid very hot or very cold temperatures. These can affect how well blood flows through the body.