In the U.S., it occurs in about one out of every 365 African-American births and, more rarely, in Hispanic-American births. Many people wonder if white people can get sickle cell disease.
Although sickle cell disease is not an extremely rare condition, this article will go over some lesser-known facts and misconceptions that everyone should know.
Other groups more likely to have sickle cell anemia include Hispanic-Americans of Central and South American descent and people of Middle Eastern, Asian, Indian, and Mediterranean heritage.
While white people don’t rank amongst those most likely to have sickle cell, they can develop it as well.
Since it can affect people of any background, all babies born in the United States are tested for sickle cell anemia.
A person with sickle cell trait cannot develop sickle cell disease but can pass the gene on to their children.
This doesn’t mean a person with sickle cell trait cannot be infected with malaria, but it is less common than a person without sickle cell trait.
Because sickle cell disease occurs in the blood, every organ in the body can be affected. Patients with SCD are at risk for stroke, eye disease, gallstones, serious bacterial infections, and anemia, to name a few.
Because of this risk, physicians who treat children with sickle cell disease use an ultrasound of the brain to screen and determine who is at highest risk of stroke and start treatment to prevent this complication.
Starting penicillin twice a day for the first five years of life has changed the course of this condition from something only seen in children into a condition people live into adulthood with.
Sometimes, when a person with sickle cell disease has a period, it can trigger an attack of sickle cell pain (acute vaso-occlusive pain).
However, studies have found that most people who menstruate and have sickle cell can tell the difference between pain from their period and pain from a sickle cell crisis.
People who have sickle cell may not be able to get pregnant or carry a pregnancy for a few reasons:
Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress in their bodiesDamage to reproductive organs from the disease and/or its treatmentsBlood disorders related to getting transfusions (hemochromatosis)They are taking medications like hydroxyurea that would be harmful to a developing fetus
People with sickle cell disease who want to have children might be able to use assisted reproduction or surrogacy.
These therapies are allowing people with sickle cell disease to live longer lives with fewer complications. Multiple research studies are ongoing to find additional treatment options.
Sometimes types of donors, like unrelated individuals or parents, are used but mostly in clinical research studies. In the coming years, gene therapy looks like a promising treatment.
If you or your family member has sickle cell disease, it is important to have regular follow-ups with a physician to ensure up-to-date care is provided.
Having a sickle cell gene does not mean you will have symptoms of sickle cell disease, but you could still pass it on to a child. While it’s true that having sickle cell disease and being treated for it can affect your fertility, you still might be able to conceive.
There are treatments for sickle cell disease and in some cases, it can be cured.
