Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is an inherited disorder, affecting red blood cells. It occurs around 300,000 infants annually worldwide. Compared to other ethnic groups, it disproportionately affects the African American population with 1 in 365 African Americans.
Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is one of the most severe forms of SCD. On the contrary, sickle cell trait (SCT) is not a disease. Individuals with SCT usually enjoy normal lifespans with no health issues. SCT is prevalent in approximately 1 in every 13 African American babies, which is roughly 8 percent, whereas it occurs in only 1 in 333 white babies, or 0.3 percent. This disparity is due to genetic evolution.
Research has revealed that having SCT offers more protection against malaria. When the malaria parasite enters the body, it infects red blood cells (RBCs). Individuals with SCT have a mixture of normal RBCs and some sickle-shaped RBCs. These sickle-shaped RBCs in individuals with SCT create an inhospitable environment for the parasite's growth. It is partially due to lower oxygen levels in sickle-shaped RBCs. This decreased parasite growth may provide more time for the immune system to respond and eliminate the infected RBCs.
SCT is found in more than 100 million people worldwide and is more prevalent in regions where malaria is/was common. It can also affect individuals of Caucasian (specifically from southern Europe), Hispanic, South Asian, and Middle Eastern heredity.
