DEAR DR. GOTT: I would like to express my opinion about your recent article on growing pains. The lady stated that her grandson would awaken crying with severe pain in his wrists, ankles, knees and hands. These could be the result of growing pains or of sickle-cell disease. I was the mother of a child with sickle cell for 30 years. I remember, as a 24-year-old parent, my 6-month-old baby waking up crying in pain. The doctors could not find anything wrong until I asked them to test him for sickle cell. They found that he was in a sickle-cell crisis. Since this is a hereditary disease found mostly in African-Americans and some Latinos, you should have asked the grandmother about her nationality. I lost my child at the age of 30. I hope this can help save the lives of children who may be affected.

DEAR READER: Sickle-cell anemia is an inherited condition that causes abnormal red blood cells (RBCs). [Read more...]