Sickle cell anemia is a strictly inherited disease. There is no other way to get it.
The genes involved in sickle cell disease control the production of a protein in red cells called hemoglobin. Hemoglobin binds oxygen in the lungs and delivers it to the peripheral tissues, such as the liver and muscles.
Most people have two normal genes for hemoglobin. Some people carry one normal gene and one gene for sickle hemoglobin. This is called "sickle cell trait". These people are normal in almost all respects and people with sickle cell trait do not develop sickle cell disease as they grow older.
A person born with sickle cell trait (one sickle cell gene) will always have sickle cell trait. The same is true of sickle cell disease (two sickle cell genes). Sickle cell disease produces illness, while sickle cell trait usually does not.
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