The deaths of student-athletes due to complications of sickle-cell trait has led the US's National Collegiate Athletic Association to recommend that all student-athletes should be tested for the condition. Dale Lloyd II died in 2006 after suffering 'exertional sickling' caused by overexertion during an early morning practice and, more recently, Ja'Quayvin Smalls died on 8 July 2009 of the same rare complication during a sprint workout in Western Carolina University. The exertional sickling complication of sickle-cell trait is known to have caused at least seven fatalities since 2000.
Sickle-cell disease is a condition caused when a person inherits two abnormal heamoglobin genes. The disease causes haemoglobin inside the red blood cells to clot, which in turn causes the cells to change into a sickle shape and prevents the cells flowing into blood vessels. This causes cramps and infections and can lead to fatal organ failure. However, sickle-cell trait occurs where a person is merely a carrier having inherited only one abnormal gene. Occasionally it may cause blood clumping at high altitudes and blood in the urine.
Whilst sickle-cell disease is most common in those of African descent, it affects many others and so screening was introduced in 1998 which became widespread for all newborns by 2006. Although sickle-cell trait is picked up by the screen, some parents may not have been informed about this, whilst others may have forgotten as their child grew older as the condition is largely benign. As a result, the risks are unknown and the warning signs may go unnoticed as exemplified by the student-athlete fatalities.
Another concern is whether parents relay the information to those who need to know for fear of placing their child at a disadvantage. Cheryl Jones,
Furthermore, specialists are asserting that tests should be made available to everyone, especially those who are planning to have children. If both parents are carriers there is a one in four chance of their children suffering from sickle cell disease. Dr Lakshmanan Krishnamurti of the Children's
Sources and References
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NCAA asks schools to test athletes for sickle-cell trait
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Rare athlete deaths spur sickle cell trait testing
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WCU now testing for sickle cell disease
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