Sickle cell disease is the most common inherited disease in Brazil. Hemoglobin S is present in 4% a 6% of the population. We believe that 3.500 babies are born with sickle cell disease every year in Brazil. Sickle cell disease has a great clinical variability with high morbidity and mortality related to the disease. Comprehensive humanized decentralized multidisciplinary care focusing on self -care might change the natural history of the disease thereby reducing its morbimortality. The current article aims at discussing self-care in sickle cell disease during four distinct stages of the life of people affected by the disease - childhood, adolescence, pregnancy and adulthood, showing the corrects strategies to treat risks factors in these different phases.
Sickle cell disease; hemoglobinopathies; self care
