Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD) is the collective name for a number of inherited blood conditions that mainly affect people of African, Caribbean, Middle Eastern, South Asian, South East Asian, and Mediterranean descent, but are also though rarely, found in the Northern European population.

Sickle Cell is based on the changes in the structure of the beta-globin chains. Sickle Cell disorders are inherited blood disorders (haemoglobinopathies) affecting the haemoglobin, an oxygen carrying substance that gives blood its red colour.

Under certain conditions the affected red blood cells change to resemble that of a farmer's sickle.

People with Sickle Cell Disorder have symptoms which include severe pain, anaemia and an increased risk of infection.

Usual treatments include penicillin, increased intake of fluids and painkillers.

Sickle Cell Disorders include Sickle Cell Anaemia, Haemoglobin SC Disorder, Haemoglobin SD Punjab, Haemoglobin SO-Arab Disorder, and Sickle Beta-Thalassaemia.

Sickle Cell Anaemia is the most common and often the most serious, but the other conditions can have similar outcomes to Sickle Cell Anaemia.

Currently between 14 and 16 million people are said to be suffering from the Sickle cell disorder worldwide.

Click on the image below to learn about Sickle Cell with Tim and Tina