Sickle cell is an inherited disease caused by a defect in a gene. A person will be born with sickle cell disease only if two genes are inherited—one from the mother and one from the father. A person who inherits just one gene is healthy and said to be a “carrier” of the disease.

Can white people get sickle cell?

Sickle cell trait is an inherited blood disorder that affects 1 million to 3 million Americans and 8 to 10 percent of African Americans. Sickle cell trait can also affect Hispanics, South Asians, Caucasians from southern Europe, and people from Middle Eastern countries.

What are the types of sickle cell?

• Hemoglobin SS disease. …
• Hemoglobin SC disease. …
• Hemoglobin SB+ (beta) thalassemia. …
• Hemoglobin SB 0 (Beta-zero) thalassemia. …
• Hemoglobin SD, hemoglobin SE, and hemoglobin SO. …
• Sickle cell trait.