Who gets tested for sickle cell?

Sickle cell anemia is usually diagnosed through genetic screening done when a baby is born. Those test results will likely be given to your family doctor or pediatrician. He or she will likely refer you to a doctor who specializes in blood disorders (hematologist) or a pediatric hematologist.

When do you get tested for sickle cell?

Sickle cell tests are routinely ordered soon after birth to screen newborns for sickle cell anemia. Testing may be done when those who were born before newborn screening was mandated want to know if they have sickle cell disease or are carrying the sickle cell trait, especially if they are in a high-risk group.

Is everyone tested for sickle cell at birth?

Though you may live a healthy, normal life, you can pass the gene on to your children. Certain groups of people are more likely to be at risk, but all babies are screened for sickle cell disease right after birth. This is part of routine testing at the hospital.

What causes people to get sickle cell anemia?

Sickle cell anemia is caused by a mutation in the gene that tells your body to make the iron-rich compound that makes blood red and enables red blood cells to carry oxygen from your lungs throughout your body (hemoglobin).

Can you prevent sickle cell anemia?

Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disorder. Because it’s a genetic condition someone is born with, there is no way to prevent the disease, so scientists are constantly investigating ways that the disease can be stopped before it passes to the next generation.

Can white people get sickle cell anemia?

Sickle cell trait is an inherited blood disorder that affects 1 million to 3 million Americans and 8 to 10 percent of African Americans. Sickle cell trait can also affect Hispanics, South Asians, Caucasians from southern Europe, and people from Middle Eastern countries.

Why do college athletes need sickle cell test?

If you’re a college athlete who’s talented enough to play a Division I sport, the NCAA requires that you get a blood test to see if you have sickle cell trait. People with sickle cell trait carry one copy of a gene that can lead to an abnormal type of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying molecule in red blood cells.

Why is sickle cell common in Africa?

The reason why so many black people have sickle cell, is that having the trait (so only one copy of the mutated allele) makes people more resistant to malaria. Malaria is a huge problem is sub-saharan Africa.

What are the diagnostic procedures for sickle cell anemia?

People who have sickle cell disease need to have frequent lab tests . Blood tests can tell your doctor whether you have another health problem, such as anemia or organ damage, so that it can be treated early. Urine testing can help to detect early kidney problems or infections.

Is it good to have sickle cell anemia?

People with sickle cell trait are generally healthy. Only rarely do people who have sickle cell trait have complications similar to those seen in people who have sickle cell disease. But people with sickle cell trait are carriers of a defective hemoglobin S gene, so they can pass it on when they have a child.

What happens in sickle cell anemia, exactly?

Sickle cell anemia can lead to a host of complications, including: Stroke. Sickle cells can block blood flow to an area of your brain. Acute chest syndrome. Pulmonary hypertension. Organ damage. Blindness. Leg ulcers. Gallstones. Priapism. Pregnancy complications.