Pune: The state health department staff has diagnosed 9,700 new hidden sickle cell cases and over 82,000 new carriers during a state-wide campaign with special emphasis on 21 tribal districts with high prevalence of the medical condition.The Arunodaya Special Sickle Cell Anaemia Campaign — especially to screen those in the 0–40 years age group — was launched on Jan 15 and extended beyond the initial deadline of Feb 7 to Feb 9. The primary objective was early detection of sickle cell disease, timely treatment and provision of referral services.The 21 tribal-dominated districts covered under the special campaign were Thane, Nashik, Nandurbar, Amravati, Gondia, Gadchiroli, Palghar, Nagpur, Wardha, Chandrapur, Bhandara, Yavatmal, Dhule, Jalgaon, Buldhana, Nanded, Washim, Akola, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Raigad and Hingoli.The health department data said that during 24 days of the campaign, the staff identified 9,725 newly diagnosed sickle cell cases and 82,205 carrier patients. It took the total number of sickle cell patients in the state to 22,145 and carrier patients to 2,06,480.People were checked using the solubility test — a rapid and inexpensive screening method to detect the presence of haemoglobin S, which causes sickle cell trait.While a sickle cell disease patients inherit two abnormal haemoglobin genes (one from each parent), a sickle cell carrier inherits one sickle gene and one normal gene.Carriers do not usually have the disease, live normal lives and do not experience symptoms — though they may have a higher risk of rare complications, like splenic infarct, under extreme conditions of dehydration or high altitudes. In case both parents are carriers, there is a 25% chance per pregnancy of having a child with the condition, a 50% chance of a carrier child and a 25% chance of a child with normal haemoglobin.“Once a patient is identified, we offer them genetic counselling. In case a newly married couple or expectant mother undergoes genetic testing, they are counselled about all possible options and help is provided at govt hospitals,” said a doctor.
