Sickle Cell Disease is a genetic condition that affects hemoglobin which carries oxygen in the body
This disease is traditionally high among Telangana’s tribal population.
Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs and genetic researchers say sickle cell disease is widespread among tribal groups of India
Tribal Affairs ministry says 1 in 86 among Scheduled Tribes (ST) population have SCD
SCD prevalence is higher in Central, South and Western parts of India.
A nationwide wide screening of tribal population by ICMR and Ministry of Tribal Affairs, indicated that 9,966,368 (8.75%) out of 1, 13, 83, 664 persons tested positive for SCD.
SCD is a genetic disorder inherited by children from their parents.
Interestingly, SCD prevalence is particularly high in regions where malaria is endemic
SCD occurs due to a gene mutation that affects the shape of RBCs, making them crescent shaped instead of round shape. It causes constant shortage of RBCs leading to anemia and other serious ailments.
Life expectancy of SCD positive individuals is around 54 years, which is 20 years shorter than normal adults.
Endogamy, or marrying within the same community and within a small area (tribal regions) causes inherited genetic disorders like the Sickle Cell anemia and beta-Thalassemia.
Blood samples of 6.96 lakh tribal people tested for the third time from 14 tribal-dominant districts in Third edition
Second edition of the screening
tribals were diagnosed with the disorder in Telangana
10000
tribals from Adilabad had the disease in 2022
375
tribals from Adilabad had sickle cell, while 32 had thalassemia in 2015
2,100
Total tribals diagnosed with sickle cell in Telangana
740
Total tribals who were found to be carriers of sickle cell in Telangana
5,627
Tribals diagnosed with sickle cell in Bhadradri Kothagudem
512
Tribals who were found to be carriers of sickle cell Bhadri Kothagudem
1,681
tribals had the disease and 997 tribals were the carriers