Question

A nurse concludes that the teaching about sickle cell anemia has been understood when an adolescent with the disorder makes which statement?

1 - "I’ll start to have symptoms when I drink less fluid."
2 - "I’ll start to have symptoms when I have fewer platelets."
3 - "I’ll start to have symptoms when I decrease the iron in my diet."
4 - "I’ll start to have symptoms when I have fewer white blood cells."

Answer 1

Answer:

1 - "I’ll start to have symptoms when I drink less fluid."

Explanation:

One of the main problems of sickle cell anemia is the crystallization of hemoglobins S, because of the difficulty in binding oxygen to the hemoglobin. This causes obstructions in the blood vessels by the formation of thrombi.

Thus, a higher fluid intake keeps the blood more fluid and prevents vessel obstruction.

Sickle cell anemia is not directly linked to iron deficiency (like common anemia), to white blood cells (in fact, it is directly linked to red blood cells) nor to platelet drop.