Debate Heats Up Over Screening Athletes for Sickle Cell Trait
FRIDAY, Dec. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Though heart problems or
heatstroke generally are to blame for a young athlete's sudden
death, experts now know that carrying an aberration called the
sickle cell trait also poses substantial risk. That has led to
mandatory screening for anyone hoping to participate in National
Collegiate Athletic Association Division I athletics. Not
everyone, however, thinks that's a good idea. Having the sickle
cell trait is different from having sickle cell disease. People
with the sickle cell trait inherited a sickle cell gene from one
parent, but not both. Because they just inherited one gene, they
won't have sickle cell disease, which develops because of
abnormal red blood cells that can lead to anemia, pain,
infection, and organ damage. In the United States, an estimated
one of every 500 blacks and one of every 36,000 Hispanics have
sickle cell disease. By contrast, one of every 12 blacks has
sickle cell trait, although m