How is sickle cell disease inherited?

What is sickle cell disease?

Sickle cell disease is an illness that affects the blood. It can make you feel very tired and can cause pain. The red blood cells in your body are a different shape. They look like a banana or a sickle.

If you have sickle cell disease, it is important to see a doctor. You can also talk to a nurse about how to feel better.

Tools that can help include simple picture books about the illness. You can also use apps that explain sickle cell disease with pictures and videos.

How do people get sickle cell disease?

What does autosomal recessive mean?

"Autosomal recessive" is a way of talking about how some health problems are passed down in families.

Here’s what it means:

• We all have genes, like instructions in our bodies.
• Genes come in pairs, like a pair of socks.
• Sometimes a gene can have a change, like a spelling mistake.
• For an "autosomal recessive" condition, both genes in the pair must have the change for someone to have the condition.
• If only one gene has the change, the person is just a carrier and does not have the condition.

Some helpful tools to learn more:

• Use picture books about genes.
• Ask a teacher or a parent to explain more if needed.
• Watch child-friendly videos on genetics.

What is a carrier of sickle cell disease?

A carrier of sickle cell disease is a person who has one sickle cell gene from one parent. They do not get sickle cell disease but can pass the gene to their children.

Here's how to understand it better:

• Sickle cell disease affects the blood.
• A "carrier" has one special gene that can be passed to their kids.
• They usually do not feel sick themselves.

Helpful tools for understanding:

• Look at pictures to see how genes pass from parents to kids.
• Ask a teacher or a family member for more examples.

Can two parents have a child with sickle cell disease?

When both parents carry the sickle cell trait, they can have a baby with sickle cell disease. This happens because each parent passes on their genes to their child. If both parents give the sickle cell gene, the child will have sickle cell disease.

It is like a game of chance. The baby has:

• a 1 in 4 chance of having sickle cell disease
• a 2 in 4 chance of being a carrier like the parents
• a 1 in 4 chance of not having the disease or the trait

Some tools that can help are:

• Pictures or diagrams to show how genes are passed down
• Talking with a doctor or nurse for more information
• Using apps or websites that explain sickle cell in simple words

What are the chances of a child having sickle cell if one parent has it and the other is a carrier?

Let's talk about sickle cell disease. It's a condition that affects red blood cells, and it’s something you are born with.

If one parent has sickle cell and the other parent carries the gene, their child can have sickle cell. "Carrier" means the parent has one sickle cell gene but doesn’t have the disease.

The chance of the child having sickle cell is 50%. This means if they have four children, about two might have the disease, but this is just an average.

To understand more, try using pictures or charts. They can show how genes from parents can pass on to children. Ask a grown-up to explain or use online videos for help.

Can two people with sickle cell trait have a healthy child?

Two parents with sickle cell trait can have a healthy child.

A child can be:

• Healthy
• Have sickle cell trait like parents
• Have sickle cell disease. This means they can get sick.

For help understanding, talk to a doctor or a nurse.

Use pictures or videos to learn more.

Do some groups of people get sickle cell disease more often?

Sickle cell disease is a health problem. It changes the shape of red blood cells. Some groups of people are more likely to have it.

This health problem is more common in people from Africa, the Middle East, India, Latin America, and the Mediterranean.

Not everyone from these places will get sickle cell disease, but more people in these groups might have it than others.

To help understand more, you can use tools like pictures or videos. Talking with a doctor can also help.

Can we find out if a baby has sickle cell disease before they are born?

Yes, doctors can check if a baby has sickle cell disease before they are born. This is called a prenatal test. Doctors use this test to look at the baby's genes. They do this test to help families get ready and plan for the baby's care.

You can ask your doctor for more information about this test. You can also use pictures or videos to help you understand more. If you need help, you can ask a parent or teacher to explain it to you.

What is the difference between sickle cell trait and sickle cell disease?

Sickle cell trait and sickle cell disease are not the same.

Sickle cell trait means you have one sickle cell gene. You do not usually get sick from it.

Sickle cell disease means you have two sickle cell genes. It can make you very sick.

If you want to understand more, you can look at pictures or ask an adult for help.

Will a carrier's child also be a carrier?

Let's find out if a carrier's baby will be a carrier too.

Tools to help:

• Use pictures or drawings to explain.
• Ask someone to read it with you.
• Take your time to understand each word.

Can someone with sickle cell trait get sickle cell disease?

People with sickle cell trait usually don't get sickle cell disease. They have one gene that can cause the disease, but it's not enough to make them sick. They mostly stay healthy.

If you have sickle cell trait, it's a good idea to talk to a doctor. They can explain more and answer your questions.

How can genetic counseling help families with sickle cell disease?

Genetic counseling can help families learn about sickle cell disease. This is useful if someone in the family has sickle cell.

The counselor talks to the family. They explain what sickle cell disease is. They tell the family how it is passed on from parents to children.

The family can ask questions. They can talk about their worries. This helps them make good choices.

Families can use tools like pamphlets or videos to understand better. It's also helpful to bring a friend or family member to support them.

Why is checking for sickle cell disease in families important?

Sickle cell disease is something people are born with. It can make them feel unwell. Checking if you have this disease can help doctors look after you better.

When babies are checked early, doctors can help keep them healthy. Parents can also learn how to care for children with sickle cell disease.

Some tools can help, like talking with nurses who know about the disease. They can explain what to do. Reading simple books about sickle cell disease can also help families understand.

Can doctors make sickle cell disease go away?

Can a child get sickle cell disease if their parents do not have it in the family?

Yes, it is possible. Sometimes a child can have sickle cell disease even if no one else in the family has had it before.

How does this happen? People have genes that they get from their parents. Sickle cell disease comes from a special type of gene. A child can get this gene even if it does not show up in the parents.

To help understand, you can use tools like picture diagrams or ask a doctor or nurse for more information.

Can having sickle cell trait be good?

What changes in genes cause sickle cell disease?

Sickle cell disease is caused by changes, called mutations, in a special part of our body code called genes. This makes red blood cells shaped like a "C".

Tools to help: You can use pictures or videos to see how sickle cell disease works. Ask a friend or teacher to help explain hard words.

How do doctors know if you have sickle cell disease?

Doctors do a simple blood test to find sickle cell disease. They take a small bit of your blood and look at it in a lab.

Special machines check if the red blood cells have a sickle shape. This is different from normal round blood cells.

Doctors might do this test when a baby is born. They can also do it if someone gets sick often or feels very tired.

If you think you need this test, talk to your doctor. They can help you understand what to do.

It can be helpful to take a friend or family member to talk with the doctor. They can help remember the information.

Can the environment affect passing on sickle cell disease?

Sickle cell disease is a sickness of the blood.

This sickness can be passed down from parents to children.

The environment does not change how sickle cell disease is passed down.

To learn more about sickle cell disease, you can:

• Talk to a doctor or nurse.
• Look at pictures or books with simple words.
• Watch easy videos on the internet.