10/01/2026
Did you know sickle cell disease is not limited to one ethnicity?
It can affect people with ancestry from Africa, the Caribbean, Central and South America, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, India and other parts of South Asia.
Early signs can include anemia, fatigue, jaundice, infections and painful swelling of the hands and feet. Severe pain episodes are another major symptom.
In the United States, sickle cell disease is usually detected through newborn screening. Blood testing can also identify sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait later in life.
Sickle cell disease is manageable with regular care, hydroxyurea, pain treatment, vaccinations, infection prevention and blood transfusions. Some patients may qualify for potentially curative blood and bone marrow transplantation or gene therapy.
Awareness begins with understanding that sickle cell crosses communities, countries and ethnicities.
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