Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disease of the red blood cells. It can affect children of any race. It is much more common in African Americans in the United States. However it is also prevalent in areas such as Africa, in Mediterranean countries (such as Greece, Turkey, and Italy), the Arabian Peninsula, India, Spanish-speaking regions in South and Central America, and parts of the Caribbean.

How do children get sickle cell ?

Children with sickle cell disease are born with it. It is an autosomal recessive genetic disease. This means children inherit the disease from parents. A child must have 2 copies of the sickle cell gene , one  from each parent to have a sickle cell disease.

If the child has just one copy of the gene, he/she doesnt have sickle cell disease. The child  has the sickle cell trait and does  not usually have any health issues related to sickle cell. However he/she can pass it on to his /her child.

How do you know if your child has sickle cell disease ?

Every state in the US  provides newborn screening test for sickle cell trait and disease. If your doctor has any concerns that the child may have sickle cell, he will order a different test known as Hemoglobin Electrophoresis.