The Hindu : Kerala News : Ten sickle cell anaemia cases detected in Attappady hamlets

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Wednesday, Dec 12, 2007
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Ten sickle cell anaemia cases detected in Attappady hamlets

Staff Reporter

150 tribal people screened at two medical camps

Infertility problems found among 30 to 40 per cent of tribal couples
Health issues due to lack of proper sanitation, personal hygiene

ANAVAI (ATTAPPADY): Ten cases of sickle cell anaemia were detected from 150 tribal people screened at two medical camps conducted at Anavai and Thadikundu tribal hamlets in the forests of Attappady on Tuesday.

Of the 125 tribal women screened for problems such as infertility, sickle cell anaemia, tuberculosis and thrombo-angiitis obliterans (TAO), it was found that many of the young women suffered from infertility as they were childless even after a couple of years of marriage.

The lack of proper sanitation and personal hygiene resulted in urinary infection that affected the uterus, causing infertility.

The medical team, headed by Dr. Prabhudas, found that the tribal people suffered from narcotic-related TAO and serious skin diseases.

A recent survey conducted by the Health Department found that 30 to 40 per cent of the tribal couples of reproductive age faced infertility problems. Every month, 20 to 30 new cases of infertility were detected in the screenings at primary health centres and the hospitals at Agali and Kottathara.

Sickle cell anaemia is a genetic disorder of the blood. Sickle cell gene carriers have one defective gene of sickle haemoglobin and do not have any problems related to the disease. But those who have sickle cell anaemia have a pair of defective genes of sickle haemoglobin, having inherited one each from their parents. They suffer from severe anaemia; repeated episodes of infections that may be life threatening at times; pain in limbs, abdomen and chest; and paralysis. Most of them die in their early childhood unless treatment is initiated.

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