Sickle Cell Anemia is an inherited blood disorder where your red blood cells are sickle shaped instead of the normal oval shaped. This disorder is caused by an abnormal Hemoglobin in the red blood cells. Instead of having Hemoglobin A, the person with Sickle Cell Anemia has Hemoglobin S. Some people have Sickle Cell Trait. This means they have inherited a Hemoglobin A gene from one parent and a Hemoglobin S from the other. Since Hemoglobin A is dominant, they have normal red blood cells. You must inherit a Hemoglobin S from each of your parents to have Sickle Cell Anemia.
In the US, all babies are tested for Sickle Cell Anemia at birth. If you are unsure of your Sickle Cell status you can request genetic testing with your mate as part of your pregnancy plan. Why is it call Anemia? Anemia is a term used to describe a condition where you do not have enough functioning red blood cells. Since the sickle cells are unable to carry oxygen like the normal cells, you have less blood cells and therefore anemia. Sickle Cell Disease affects millions of people throughout the world and is particularly common among those whose ancestors came from sub-Saharan Africa; Spanish-speaking regions in the Western Hemisphere (South America, the Caribbean, and Central America); Saudi Arabia; India; and Mediterranean countries such as Turkey, Greece, and Italy. Sickle cell disease occurs more often in parts of the world where malaria is prevalent. It is believed that people who have Sickle Cell Trait tend to have less severe forms of malaria.
It is estimated that:
• SCD affects approximately 100,000 Americans.
• SCD occurs among about 1 out of every 365 Black or African American births.
• SCD occurs among about 1 out of every 16,300 Hispanic-American births.
• About 1 in 13 Black or African American babies is born with sickle cell trait (SCT).