Tens of Thousands of
Ticos Have Sickle-Cell
And Are Unaware Of It
Some 100.000 Costa Rican
are carriers of
Sickle-cell disease and
don't even know it, of
which there is no cure.
Sickle-cell disease is
characterized by a
mutation in the shape of
red blood cells, which
lose their
characteristic shape of
a donut and acquire
semilunar. These
abnormal cells lose its
plasticity, which can
block small blood
vessels and reduce blood
flow. The survival of
red blood cells was
decreased, with a
consequent anemia
(sickle cell anemia or
sickle cell). The
decrease in oxygenation
of tissues and
obstruction of the blood
vessels can produce
painful crisis, severe
bacterial infections and
necrosis.
Sickle cell is an
inherited, lifelong
condition. People who
have sickle cell anemia
are born with it. They
inherit two copies of
the sickle cell gene,
one from each parent.
People who inherit a
sickle cell gene from
one parent and a normal
gene from the other
parent have a condition
called sickle cell
trait.
Costa Rican
haematologist, German
Sáenz, says that if
someone wants to know if
they have Sickle-cell
there is a simple test
that can be performed,
however, there is no
cure though there are
experimental treatments
available.
The viceministra de
Salud (Health
vice-minister), Lidiette
Carballo, added that on
August 13, 2007, the
Poder Ejecutivo
(government) issued a
decree making
Sickle-cell a public
health issue.
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