Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia

Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia are inherited blood disorders, which mainly affects people whose origins are from Africa , Asia , the Middle East , the Mediterranean and the Caribbean .

There are two forms, the carrier states known as traits and the serious disorders - sickle cell anaemia and Thalassaemia major.

People who are carriers have inherited Sickle Cell or Thalassaemia from only one parent. They will not have any ill health and they will not develop a major illness.

People who inherited Sickle Cell or Thalassaemia from both parents have serious illness which requires lifelong treatment, but for which there is as yet no cure.