Sickle cell disease in childhood. Strategies for early diagnosis.

Early diagnosis of hemoglobin diseases means the identification of a molecular phenotype at a stage when there is opportunity to prevent, minimize, or more adequately adapt to an anticipated health burden. Such diagnosis is presently possible in early childhood, in the neonatal stage, and in fetal stage. A benefit of early diagnosis at all of these stages is the provision of additional options to parents for making informed decisions regarding prevention or for coping with the anticipated hemoglobin disease.