[Adolescence and sickle cell disease]

Sickle cell disease adds relevant problems to the physical, emotional and social changes that normally occur during adolescence. Specific physical characteristics and complications of the disease can hinder the social and emotional adjustment of the affected teenagers. The cooperation between the physician and the parents is essential in order to assist the teenager to the difficulties of this critical phase of adolescence. Recommendations are best offered in the form of education of the adolescent about the disease, education of the family and the school about the needs of the adolescent, and the preparation of the adolescent for the transition to the adult life and adult medical care.