1. MYTH:: Sickle cell disease is contagious or sexually transmitted.
FACT: Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder. An individual with sickle cell disease inherits the sickle cell trait from both parents. You cannot 'catch' sickle cell disease by coming in contact with someone who has the disorder.
2. MYTH: Sickle cell disease is caused by white blood cells eating red blood cells.
FACT: Sickle cell disease is due to an inherited abnormality in the red pigment called haemoglobin, which is responsible for transporting oxygen in the red blood cells.
3.MYTH:: Sickle cell disease affects all patients in the same way.
FACT: Sickle cell disease is highly variable, some persons have a very mild form of the disorder, and remain well almost all the time, while a minority of patients often get sick. Most people living with sickle cell disease are more severely affected between the ages of 0 and 20 years and maintain relatively good health during their adult years.
4.MYTH: Anyone with a sickle cell disorder will die at an early age (by 20).
FACT: Individuals with sickle cell disease are living longer as a result of the research conducted over the past 30 years at the Sickle Cell Unit in Jamaica. The median life expectancy of persons living with the disorder in Jamaica is 53 years for men and 58.5 years for women. Many patients live well into their 70s and 80s. Our oldest living patient is 86 years old, says the Sickle Cell Support Club of Jamaica.
5.MYTH: The sickle cell disease only affects Black people.
FACT: Sickle cell disease affects descendants from regions of the world that has malaria. The sickle cell trait provides some protection against malaria, therefore persons with the trait often survived attacks of malaria when others did not. This apparent mutation of the
haemoglobin which occurred in an attempt to fight off malaria, led to the development of sickle cell disease when two persons with the sickle cell trait had children and passed on the abnormal gene. The disorder affects persons living in India, Saudia Arabia, Italy, Spain, Greece, South America, sections of Africa and the Caribbean.
6.MYTH: Women with a sickle cell
disorder cannot have children.
FACT: Women with sickle cell disease can have children, but they need to ensure that they are in good health before they get pregnant. Once pregnant, they must ensure that they get regular check ups during their pregnancy, as they are more at risk of developing complications.
7.MYTH: Persons with sickle cell take medication on a daily basis to manage their condition.
FACT: Patients may take medication when they have a sickle cell crisis or are suffering from some other symptom of the disease, however there is no daily medication taken by patients to maintain good health. Patients have to learn to understand their bodies, the circumstances that cause them to get sick and make the necessary lifestyle changes getting adequate rest; drinking healthy, non-alcoholic beverages, like fruit and vegetable juices; eating a balanced diet that includes very little fried foods; avoiding over exertion, getting wet in the rain, or getting cold at the beach.
8.MYTH: Children with sickle cell disease should not participate in physical education classes at school.
FACT: All patients need to do light to moderate exercise on a regular basis to maintain good health. Children should not be taken out of physical education classes unless their doctors have restricted their activities while they recover from a complication of the disease such as a leg ulcer or bone damage.
9.MYTH: Persons with sickle cell cannot hold down a full time job and should not be hired.
FACT: Individuals with sickle cell disease are holding down fulltime jobs in a wide variety of professions. They should be made to feel comfortable at their jobs and employers should not threaten to fire them if they get sick. This will only make the individual worried about getting sick and this state of constant anxiety can induce a sickle cell crisis.
Source: Sickle Cell Support Club of Jamaica (SCSC)
