| Sickle cell disease: A practical guide for teachers | 652.000000000000 | Sickle cell disease: A practical guide for teachers | Sickle cell disease: A practical guide for teachers | S | English | Haematology | Preschooler (2-4 years);School age child (5-8 years);Pre-teen (9-12 years);Teen (13-18 years) | NA | Arteries;Veins;Capillaries | Conditions and diseases | Educators | NA | | 2011-03-17T04:00:00Z | | | | | | 8.50000000000000 | 60.3000000000000 | 2254.00000000000 | | Flat Content | Health A-Z | <p>An easy-to-understand overview of sickle cell disease for teachers.</p> | <h2>What is sickle cell disease (SCD)?</h2><p>Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder. It is not contagious. Most children with SCD are of African ancestry, but children of Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and South Asian ancestry are also affected. </p>
<figure class="asset-c-100">
<span class="asset-image-title">Sickle cell shape</span>
<img src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/Sickle_cell_comparison_MED_ILL_EN.png" alt="A red blood cell with normal hemoglobin molecules and a sickled red blood cell with abnormal hemoglobin molecules" />
<figcaption class="asset-image-caption">Red blood cells carry a protein called hemoglobin, which brings oxygen to all the parts of the body. People with sickle cell disease carry sickle-shaped hemoglobin cells that tend to get stuck in the smaller blood vessels.</figcaption>
</figure> | | <h2>Key points</h2>
<ul>
<li>Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder.</li>
<li>The two main characteristics of SCD are a long-standing anemia and recurrent episodes of vaso-occlusion.</li>
<li>Anemia is a result of increased breakdown of red blood cells. Children may appear pale and have yellow eyes from time to time.</li>
<li>Vaso-occlusive episodes are blockages of the blood vessels by deformed red blood cells.</li>
<li>Infection, fatigue, and dehydration are possible triggers for a pain crisis.</li>
<li>Do not use ice packs to treat pain.</li>
<li>If your student has a fever, call their parents immediately so they can take them to the nearest Emergency Department.</li>
<li>Understanding the difficulties associated with SCD and making the necessary accommodations will help your student achieve success in the classroom.</li>
</ul> | <h2>Signs and symptoms of sickle cell disease</h2><p>The two main characteristics of SCD are a long-standing
<a href="/Article?contentid=841&language=English">anemia</a> and recurrent episodes of vaso-occlusion:</p><ul><li>
<strong> Anemia</strong> is a result of increased breakdown of red blood cells. Children may appear pale and have yellow eyes from time to time.</li><li>
<strong>Vaso-occlusive episodes </strong>are blockages of the blood vessels anywhere in the body by deformed red blood cells. This causes a lack of oxygen in the affected area of the body. Symptoms depend on where the blood vessels are blocked. If a blood vessel going to the brain is blocked, for example, the child will show symptoms of a stroke, such as weakness of one side of the body. If the blood vessel going to a leg bone is blocked, the child will have pain in the leg.</li></ul>
<figure class="asset-c-100">
<span class="asset-image-title">Vaso-occlusion in SCD</span>
<img src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/Sickle_cell_vaso_occlusion_MED_ILL_EN.png" alt="Normal blood flow with healthy red blood cells compared to blocked blood flow from sickled red blood cells" />
<figcaption class="asset-image-caption">Healthy red blood cells are soft, round and flexible. Sickled red blood cells are sticky and hard and can block blood flow.</figcaption>
</figure>
<h3>Pain crises</h3><p>The most common symptom of a vaso-occlusive episode is bone pain. Any bone can be affected, including the arms, legs, back, and skull.</p><p>These episodes, commonly called pain crises, are unpredictable. Some children do not feel well prior to the actual onset of pain and can let an adult know.</p><p>Possible triggers for a pain crisis include:</p><ul><li>infection</li><li>stress/fatigue</li><li>dehydration</li><li>exposure to cold and very hot temperatures</li></ul><p>Some pain crises happen without a known reason.</p><h3>Preventing pain crises</h3><p>Parents and teachers can help to prevent a pain episode by:</p><ul><li>Giving children lots of fluids to drink so they are not thirsty.</li><li>Dressing them in a few layers of warm clothing in the winter when they are leaving home.</li><li>Sending an extra sweatshirt and socks to school in case the student becomes wet during recess or at any time.</li><li>Recognizing fever as a sign of infection and having the child seen immediately by a doctor.</li><li>Avoiding vigorous exercise without the ability to take breaks and drink fluids, especially during hot days.</li></ul><p>Even with these measures, though, children may still have a pain crisis.</p><h2>What to do if your student with sickle cell disease is unwell</h2><h3>Temperature</h3><ol><li>First, have the student sit or lie down in a quiet place.</li><li>
<a href="/Article?contentid=966&language=English">Take the student’s temperature</a>. Parents are advised to have a thermometer in the child’s bag for use in school or to leave one with the teacher for that student’s use.</li><li>If the temperature is higher than 37.5°C under the armpit, or 38°C in the mouth, call the parents immediately to take the student to the closest emergency department.</li><li>If the temperature is less than 37.5°C, then do a pain assessment.</li><li>Is there any sign of breathing problems? If yes, call an ambulance. If no, do a pain assessment.</li></ol>
<figure>
<span class="asset-image-title">Pain assessment numerical/visual analogue scale</span>
<img src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/PN_painscale_thermom_CHART_IMG_EN.jpg" alt="A thermometer numbered zero to ten, with no hurt at the bottom of the thermometer and worse hurt at the top" />
<figcaption class="asset-image-caption">Children are asked to indicate their pain intensity by putting a mark on the scale.</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Doing a pain assessment</h2><ol><li>Ask the student what level their pain is on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being no pain and 10 being “the worst pain ever.” Ask where the pain is located.</li><li>If the pain is less than 7/10 and the parents have given the teacher or nurse a supply of pain medication, the child can have a dose given as prescribed.</li><li>If no medication is at school to treat pain or if it is greater than 7/10, call a parent to pick up the student.</li><li>If the pain is localized to 1 or 2 areas, a warm pack can be applied to the site of pain until the student is picked up by a parent. ICE PACKS SHOULD BE AVOIDED.</li></ol><h3>Children (5 to 8 years of age)</h3><p>Ask your student: "If 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain you can imagine, what are you feeling now?"</p><h3>Older children (8 years of age and older)</h3><p>Ask your student: "If 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain you can imagine, what are you feeling right now?"</p><h2>Pain management</h2><h3>Medications</h3><ol><li>
<a href="/article?contentid=194&language=English">Morphine</a> _____ mg. Repeat dose every four hours.</li><li>
<strong>Before each dose, take your student's temperature. If their temperature is higher than 37.5°C under the armpit, go to the nearest Emergency Department right away.</strong></li><li>
<a href="/article?contentid=62&language=English">Acetaminophen</a> _____ mg. Repeat dose every four hours.</li><li>
<a href="/article?contentid=153&language=English">Ibuprofen</a> _____ mg. Repeat dose every six hours.</li><li>Docusate _____ mL x one dose.</li></ol><h3>Physical</h3><ol><li>Give your student plenty of fluids. Not cold.</li><li>Gently massage the area.</li><li>Apply heat to the area.</li></ol><h3>Tips for using heat</h3><ul><li>Use disposable, instant hot packs. Be sure to follow the instructions on the package.</li><li>Warm blankets from the dryer.</li><li>Warm baths.</li><li>Apply heat in 20 minute intervals.</li><li>Babies and young children should not be left unattended with heat. Use heat with children 3 years of age and older.</li><li>If the area becomes painful, uncomfortable, or a local skin reaction develops, remove heat immediately.</li></ul><h3>Psychological/Behavioural</h3><ul><li>deep breathing</li><li>
<a href="/Article?contentid=1259&language=English">relaxation exercises</a></li><li>distractions (movies or music)</li><li>imagery</li></ul><h2>What to do when your student with sickle cell disease has a fever</h2><p>Children with SCD are at greater risk of life-threatening infections than their peers. In part, this is because their spleen function is not as good at destroying the cell coating of some bacteria.
<strong><em>Fever in a child with SCD is considered an emergency and requires prompt treatment with antibiotics</em></strong>.</p><p>A thermometer should be available at school for assessing the temperature of children if they are unwell while at school. A temperature higher than 37.5°C under the arm and higher than 38°C by mouth requires that the child be seen promptly at an emergency department. Call the child’s parents to pick up the child. If they cannot be reached in a short time (perhaps an hour), take the child to the closest emergency department.</p><p>Medicines such as
<a href="/article?contentid=62&language=English">acetaminophen</a> and
<a href="/article?contentid=153&language=English">ibuprofen </a> will reduce fever, but will not affect the infection that is causing the fever. Using them can lead to a false sense of security or to the fever not being taken seriously. Do not give a student with SCD these medicines to treat a fever.</p><h2>Fluid requirements and bathroom privileges for students with sickle cell disease</h2><p>Children with SCD excrete higher volumes of urine compared with their peers because their kidneys cannot concentrate urine. Bathroom privileges are a must whenever the student needs to go. Attempts to hold urine will result in accidents and embarrassment to the student, with the potential for future teasing and
<a href="/Article?contentid=303&language=French">bullying</a>.</p><p>Correspondingly, when a child produces more urine than usual, they must also increase their fluid intake. This is particularly important in SCD, as dehydration can trigger pain crises. When patient child is dehydrated, blood cells also become dehydrated and change shape, causing blood vessel blockage and acute pain. Students with SCD should be allowed to have water bottles at their desks so that they will have easy access to water. This will reduce the disruption of leaving the classroom for the water fountain.</p><h2>Sports and extra-curricular activities for students with sickle cell disease</h2><p>Students with SCD should be encouraged to participate fully to the best of their ability and according to their tolerance level. As a result of low hemoglobin level (<a href="/Article?contentid=841&language=English">anemia</a>), they will tire faster than their peers with physical activity. They should be encouraged to try out for school teams and participate in gym, but with more frequent rest periods and increased hydration.</p><p>It is a good idea for parents and their child with SCD to talk with the physical education teacher about the physical discomforts associated with SCD and any symptoms the student has had in the past with physical activity. The family and the teacher should reach an understanding about expectations.</p><h3>Special precautions for swimming</h3><p>Students with SCD can participate in swimming classes. However, they should limit the time in the pool to 30 minutes. After getting out of the water, the student must dry off and change into dry clothing right away. They should not run around in cold, wet swimsuits as their body temperature will fall, potentially resulting in bone pain.</p><h3>Special precautions for hot weather</h3><p>When exposed to very
<a href="/Article?contentid=1966&language=English">hot temperatures</a>, such as during a sporting event in the summer, students with SCD can participate but with frequent rest breaks and increased hydration.</p><h3>Special precautions for winter activities</h3><p>Students with SCD should be allowed to participate, but they should be
<a href="/Article?contentid=1940&language=French">dressed well in layers</a> appropriate for the temperature of the day. Areas of increased loss of body heat, such as fingers, toes, head, and ears should all be well covered. At temperatures less than -5°C, students with SCD should be excused from participating.</p><h2>Academic performance for students with SCD</h2><p>Most children with SCD will perform as well as their peers, so expectations for students who have SCD should be similar to those of their peers. Having a chronic illness at times results in reduced self-esteem and lack of confidence. Encouraging the student is essential.</p><p>There are several reasons why some students with SCD may have exceptionalities.</p><h3>Missed school days</h3><p>Students with SCD may miss school because of:</p><ul><li>scheduled clinic visits</li><li>inpatient hospitalizations to treat the severe bone pain associated with SCD</li><li>less severe painful bone crises being treated at home</li></ul><p>This means that they have less instructional time. It has been proven that school attendance is directly related to academic performance. A parent could speak with the child’s teacher about setting up a homework buddy program for the whole class. Each student would have a “buddy” who would collect handouts and notify the absentee student of important future deadlines. Many teachers have websites where they post homework assignments and future dates for both parents and students. If these exist, please bring them to the attention of parents and students.</p><h3>Neurological problems</h3><p>One in 5 children with SCD has so-called “silent strokes.” These are small strokes in the frontal area of the brain which go undetected unless an MRI is performed. The frontal area of the brain is responsible for executive functioning and this affects a student’s ability to focus, organize, plan, and memorize. As children move to the higher grades they may experience increasing difficulty.</p><p>One in 10 children with SCD under the age of 20 years old will have overt strokes. These result in diminished academic performance and various degrees of physical disability. Thankfully, most overt strokes can be prevented with a chronic transfusion program when children with SCD are identified early in life.</p><h3>If your student is having difficulty</h3><p>When a student is identified to be having difficulties academically, neuropsychological testing should be undertaken and appropriate IEP (Individual Education Plan) intervention done on an individual basis. Whenever a teacher is concerned about a student’s health, with the parents’ written permission they should seek out the health care team involved with the student as a resource.</p><p>Children with SCD are expected to have a life expectancy well into the 6th and 7th decade, so they should be prepared for the work force in a manner that is suitable for the adult with SCD. As a result of the
<a href="/Article?contentid=841&language=English">anemia</a>, most adults will not be able to pursue careers which involve heavy, sustained physical activity. It is therefore essential that they be steered away from such careers and into less physically demanding jobs. This makes achieving a good education even more important.</p><h2>How teachers can help students with sickle cell disease achieve academically and socially in the classroom</h2><ul><li>Learn about SCD and how it has affected your student.</li><li>Provide make-up work for students who have missed days from school due to illness.</li><li>If your student is not performing optimally, suggest a neuropsychological assessment so an IEP can be done to optimize learning.</li><li>Have free and open communication with the student’s parents so you can work as a team to optimize performance.</li><li>Dispel any myths or rumours about your student that may be in the classroom, such as reasons for the student’s eyes being yellow, or the disorder being contagious.</li></ul><h2>Special situations where the teacher should call 9-1-1</h2><p>If any of the following occurs, call emergency services right away:</p><ul><li>difficulty breathing</li><li>loss of consciousness</li><li>severe headache</li><li>difficulty speaking or slurring of speech</li><li>weakness of limbs</li><li>seizure activity</li><li>fever greater than 39°C</li><li>unexplained lethargy/sleepiness persistent vomiting<br></li></ul> | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/Sickle_cell_vaso_occlusion_MED_ILL_EN.png | Sickle cell disease: A practical guide for teachers | | False | | | | | | | | |
