World Sickle Cell Day 2017

In 2008, June 19 was officially designated as World Sickle Cell Awareness Day. The international awareness day is observed annually in an attempt to increase public knowledge and an understanding of sickle cell disease, while educating those who may not know enough about the struggles experienced by patients and their families and caregivers. Sickle cell disease patients have red blood cells that are hard, sticky and C-shaped (like the farm tool, a “sickle), and the potentially-fatal rare genetic condition affects an estimated 95,000 Americans – both adults and children. The misshapen sickle cells clog smaller blood vessels, result in excruciating pain and put patients at an increased risk for infection acute chest syndrome and stroke. Sickle cell disease has been a focus for Rare Disease Report throughout the years, and the resources below are sure to be helpful to patients, caregivers and advocates.

Sickle cell disease is an inherited condition. Two genes for the sickle hemoglobin must be inherited from one's parents in order to have the disease. A person who receives a gene for sickle cell disease from one parent and a normal gene from the other has a condition called "sickle cell trait." Sickle cell trait produces no symptoms or problems for most people. Sickle cell disease can neither be contracted nor passed on to another person. The severity of sickle cell disease varies tremendously. Some people with sickle cell disease lead lives that are nearly normal. Others are less fortunate, and can suffer from a variety of complications.

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