Do only African and Caribbean people get Sickle Cell?
Sickle Cell does not discriminate! The sickle gene is not exclusive to those of African and Caribbean heritage. There have been instances where Caucasians, Asians and Europeans have also inherited this defective gene and no, it is not necessarily a result of being from a mixed African or Caribbean background. Q Is it true that if you have Sickle Cell that you can’t get malaria? Having Sickle Cell disorder does not make one immune to Malaria. If a Sickler is infected with the Malaria parasite, it increases the sickling in the blood which can lead to serious illness. This is why it is important for a Sickler to take anti-malarial tablets when travelling to areas where Malaria is prominent. It is thought that individuals who carry the Sickle Cell trait have some protection against Malaria; however it is also imperative that anti-malaria tablets are taken when necessary. Q Can Sickle Cell lead to other complications? Yes! It can lead to various different health complications of which many
