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Understanding the Disease
Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a genetic disease of the red blood cells. It is characterized by painful episodes, lower resistance to infections, organ damage, anemia, joint degeneration, strokes, and other health problems. SCD occurs when a child inherits a hemoglobin gene that sickles from both parents. In this case, the child is born with the disease.
Sickle Cell Trait (SCT) occurs when a child inherits a normal hemoglobin gene and a sickle gene. This results in a carrier of the sickle cell gene. SCT is harmless. The concern about the trait is that this abnormal gene can be passed to a child.
![What Is Sickle Cell Anemia and How Do You Get It?](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0XpNz5KVFIU/maxresdefault.jpg)
What Is Sickle Cell Anemia and How Do You Get It?
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HOSPITAL VISITS
A Person with Sickle Cell Disease has an average of 5.6 more hospital encounters annually with 20% having 11 or more encounters annually.
HOSPITAL ENCOUNTERS
Hospital encounters for Sickle Cell Disease increased 24% from
2011-2015
CONNECTICUT'S #s
In Connecticut, nearly 40,000
people carry the Sickle Cell Trait.
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