Did You Know?
Thanks to early diagnosis and advances in care, the outlook for people with sickle cell disease has improved greatly in the past 50 years.
1 SCD is inherited from both parents; sickle cell trait is inherited from one parent.
2 SCD can affect anyone, although it predominantly affects people from African and Caribbean backgrounds.
3 1 in 76 babies born in the UK carry sickle cell trait.
4 Approximately 15,000 people in the UK have sickle cell disorder.
5 Approximately 350 babies with SCD are born in the UK every year.
6 A simple blood test will tell whether you have sickle cell trait or the disorder
7 Children with SCD are at increased risk for stroke, the risk is highest between the ages of 2 and 16.
8 Episodes of pain may occur in sickle cell disorder and are generally referred to as a crisis
In countries like the United States, with well-resourced health care systems, more than 90 percent of children with the disease live well into adulthood. The keys are learning how to take the best possible care of yourself and working closely with health care providers who understand your condition and challenges.