title: Sickle Cell Disease in Sub-Saharan Africa.
abstract: In Africa, at least 240,000 children are born each year with sickle cell disease. Historically, in the absence of newborn screening and appropriate treatment, most such children died undiagnosed in early childhood. However, with increasing awareness of the condition and economic and epidemiologic transition, increasing numbers are surviving. Greater investments in basic and applied research in the African context, and increased sensitization or African ministries of health regarding the importance of this condition, could make a substantial difference to the lives and livelihoods of millions of people living with sickle cell disease on the continent and their families.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, St Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, London W21N, UK; Department of Epidemiology and Demography, KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Research Programme, PO Box 230, Kilifi, Kenya. Electronic address: tom.williams@imperial.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Thomas N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000453:epidemiology; D000367:Age Factors; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D002423:Cause of Death; D015897:Comorbidity; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D055544:beta-Globins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D055544:beta-Globins
keywords: Bacteremia; Children; Public health; Sickle cell disease; Sub-Saharan Africa