Reference no: EM133950703

Question

Disorders of Red Blood Cells

S is a 12-year-old African American girl who is brought to the emergency department by her day camp counselor. She is in excruciating pain and keeps saying something about a crisis situation. No one has any knowledge of her previous medical history, and no one has been able to make contact with any family members. The counselor shared that she became short of breath and started reporting pain when they got to the top of the mountain they were climbing. The nurse immediately suspects a sickle cell crisis.

- What is sickle cell disorder?

- The nurse finally made contact with S's mother, who confirmed that S did indeed have sickle cell anemia. What factors in the scenario prompted the crisis at this time?

- What are other risk factors for a sickle cell crisis?

S's mother begins to cry and says, "If only I had known, I would have never had children. When she had her first crisis at 2 weeks of age, I decided then I would never have any more children since they would all have sickle cell disease."

- How would the nurse respond?

- Why did S not have a crisis at birth?

- What are some possible complications associated with repeated sickle cell crises?