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Medical AI Inquiry: You were designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.
user
A 6-year-old right-handed boy is brought to the emergency department because of difficulty speaking and inability to raise his right arm. The patient’s mother says his symptoms started suddenly 1 hour ago and have not improved. She says he has never had these symptoms before. No other significant past medical history. The patient was born full-term via spontaneous transvaginal delivery and has met all developmental goals. The family immigrated from Nigeria 3 months ago, and the patient is currently following a vaccination catch-up schedule. His vital signs include: temperature 36.8°C (98.2°F), blood pressure 111/65 mm Hg, pulse 105/min. Height is at the 30th percentile and weight is at the 25th percentile for age and sex. Physical examination is remarkable for generalized pallor, pale conjunctiva, jaundice, and complete loss of strength in the right arm (0/5). His peripheral blood smear is shown in the picture. Which of the following is the most effective preventive measure for this patient’s condition?
assistant
Regular blood transfusion