About Sickle Cell Anemia

First, an explanation of how the term "trait" is used. Normally it refers to any inherited characteristic, but here it is used to describe the condition where a person gets an abnormal gene from one parent and the normal type of that gene from the other parent. (When one gets the abnormal genes from both parents one is said to have the disease.)

Because there are no sickle-shaped cells in the blood of these individuals, they do not have sickle cell anemia; which means they do not have painful episodes, they do not tire easily, their eyes are not yellow and their life expectancy is normal.

Although we do not consider Sickle Cell Trait to be a disease, occasionally sickling can occur in the kidneys and when this happens bleeding from the kidneys can occur making the urine red. Also in some individuals with Sickle Cell Trait, sickling in the blood stream and symptoms may occasionally occur at high altitudes or while they are receiving a general anesthetic for a surgical operation.

Incidence of Sickle Cell Trait

Sickle Cell Disease
(African-Americans) 1:500 births
(Caucasians) 1:58,140 births