Education & awareness
Understanding
sickle cell disease.
Everything you need to know — causes, symptoms, genotypes, treatment, and how to protect your family.
What is it?
A blood disorder that shapes every moment of life.
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. Healthy red blood cells are round and flexible, moving easily through blood vessels. In SCD, the red blood cells become rigid and crescent (sickle) shaped.
These sickle cells can get stuck in small blood vessels, blocking the flow of blood and oxygen to parts of the body — causing severe pain episodes called crises, as well as serious organ damage over time.
Nigeria has the highest burden of SCD globally. Approximately 150,000 babies are born with the disease every year.
25%
of global SCD burden
is in Nigeria
Causes & inheritance
It's passed down from parent to child.
SCD is caused by a mutation in the haemoglobin gene. A child must inherit the sickle cell gene from both parents to develop the disease.
Example: Both parents carry the AS trait
Father
Mother
AA
Normal
25%
AS
Carrier
25%
AS
Carrier
25%
SS
SCD
25%
Every pregnancy carries the same 25% risk when both parents are AS
Genotype guide
Know your genotype. Know your risk.
AA
Normal
No sickle genes. Not affected, not a carrier. No SCD risk to children unless partner carries a sickle gene.
AS
Sickle cell trait
Carries one sickle gene. Usually no symptoms but can pass the gene to children. Avoid AS + AS partnerships.
SS
Sickle cell disease
Has two sickle genes. Experiences the full disease — painful crises, anaemia, organ complications.
SC
Sickle-Haemoglobin C
One sickle (S) and one haemoglobin C gene. A milder form of SCD but still causes complications.
Interactive tool
Genotype calculator.
Select both parents' genotypes to see the possible outcomes for your children.
Father's genotype
Mother's genotype
Possible outcomes for children of ×
This tool is for educational purposes only. Please consult a genetic counsellor for professional advice.
Symptoms
What living with SCD looks like.
Painful crises
Sudden, severe pain in bones, chest, joints, or abdomen — lasting hours to days. The most common complication.
Fatigue & anaemia
Sickled cells break down in 10–20 days vs 120 days for normal cells, causing constant low red blood cell counts.
Stroke
Sickled cells can block blood vessels in the brain, causing stroke — even in children as young as 2 years old.
Acute chest syndrome
Life-threatening chest pain, fever, and breathing difficulty — requires urgent hospital care.
Organ damage
Kidneys, liver, spleen, and eyes can suffer long-term damage from repeated blockages in blood supply.
Delayed growth
Children with SCD often grow and develop more slowly, and may reach puberty later than their peers.
Treatment & management
Treatment options have improved significantly.
While there is no universal cure available to most patients in Nigeria, several treatments can significantly reduce complications and improve quality of life.
Most common
Hydroxyurea
The most widely used medication for SCD. Reduces pain crises, acute chest syndrome, and transfusion needs by increasing foetal haemoglobin.
Potentially curative
Bone marrow transplant
The only proven cure for SCD. Requires a matched sibling donor and carries significant risks. Currently limited to well-resourced centres.
Supportive
Blood transfusions
Regular transfusions reduce stroke risk in high-risk children and manage severe anaemia. Exchange transfusions are used in critical episodes.
Prevention
Penicillin & vaccinations
Daily penicillin from birth to age 5 dramatically reduces the risk of life-threatening infections. Certain vaccines are also essential for SCD patients.
FAQ
Common questions answered.
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Downloadable resources