What IS

Sickle cell anemia?

Sickle cell disease

Sickle cell disease is more prevalent than any other genetic disease, such as Cystic Fibrosis, Phenylketonuria (PKU), Hemophilia, Tay-Sachs, and Muscular Dystrophy. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), sickle cell anemia is considered one of the four major public health challenges in the world, along with malaria, AIDS and tuberculosis.

1 in 400 children are affected by the disease.

1 in 10 people in the black population have the sickle cell trait

When both parents have sickle cell trait, there is a 25% chance of having a child with the disease.

More than 300,000 children in the world are born each year with this disease and 50% will not reach their fifth birthday due to a lack of adequate care from birth. Sickle cell anemia is more widespread than hemophilia, muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis among many other common conditions.

In Canada, as in Quebec, there is very little data on this chronic disease even though it is very common. The disease is still under-recognized among health care providers. The means to help those who are ill are often insufficient, while the consequences on patients and their families are numerous.