AZeD1:
The sickle cell hemoglobin in the "AS" person prevents them from having malaria.

Sweetlemon:


I see. But how about other illnesses?

uboma:
People with AA genotype are more prone to malaria than their counterparts, the AS.

However, your environment and exposure to mosquito contributes to the rate at which an individual with AA gets infected with malaria.

ritababe:
Depend on how you treat urself

Sweetlemon:
I have noticed that AS carriers are usually the healthiest of all. Why is this so?

My sister who is the only AS carrier in my family never falls sick, she has only been ill twice as a little girl, the worst she complains of is headache except when she's pregnant. The rest of us, especially me fall sick a lot, especially with malaria.
This is not about habits because we all grew up together and we have similar health habits. We are all generally neat and we all had the same diet while growing up.
Why is this so?

Seun:
Sickle cell gene carriers (AS) can be infected by malaria but the symptoms are less severe for them.

Sources:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20450-how-sicklecell-carriers-fend-off-malaria.html
http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Malaria_Resistance_and_Sickle_Cell_Trait

Sweetlemon:
I have noticed that AS carriers are usually the healthiest of all. Why is this so?

My sister who is the only AS carrier in my family never falls sick, she has only been ill twice as a little girl, the worst she complains of is headache except when she's pregnant. The rest of us, especially me fall sick a lot, especially with malaria.
This is not about habits because we all grew up together and we have similar health habits. We are all generally neat and we all had the same diet while growing up.
Why is this so?

cozy7:
Exact same thing I've always wondered. I'm AA but I often hv malaria typhoid. Despite what they say abt d benefits of AA, I feel it's a Borden for me to be AA. SO DEPRESSING!!

Nitefury:


AS carriers suffer less "malaria" attacks than people with AA and SS genotypes who are prone to it.

I'm not saying saying mosquitos don't bite them..

To start with, once upon a time, our ancestors were all AA. But after thousands of years of Malaria attacks, in order to fight the plasmodium parasites back, they began to undergo some kinda mutation in our genotypes and the sickle cell carrier (AS) was born..

Now how does AS protect against malaria attacks?

There's something called the spleen whose duty is to remove dead and sickled cells from the blood stream.. Now remember the plasmodium parasite lives inside the RBC which are oval in shape.

Now when ever a sickle RBC gets to the spleen, it removes it from the system because the shape is not normal. Now, since the parasite enters the RBC whether sickle or normal, when ever a sickle RBC containing the M.parasite gets to the spleen, it is killed together with the sickle cell.


What this means is, the M.parasite load in an individual with genotype AS is always lower than that of an AA individual. Hence an AA individual would most likely fall ill with malaria than an AS carrier even if they are both exposed to the same levels of mosquito bites.

Other factors like Diet, stress, environment and exposures to Mosquito bites etc. play a role too.

And note, the sickle cell genotype (AS) is found primarily in West Africa and other wet regions of the world.

I just tried to explain in a market woman's language so as not to confuse you..

You might wanna carry out further research online. Searching google for "Genotype AS and possible protective role against malaria" would be a good start.

Vires:
I'm AA and I haven't had malaria since this millinium started, thats 15 yrs and counting
I'm not abroad oooo and mosquito dey chop me wellwell

Sweetlemon:
I have noticed that AS carriers are usually the healthiest of all. Why is this so?

My sister who is the only AS carrier in my family never falls sick, she has only been ill twice as a little girl, the worst she complains of is headache except when she's pregnant. The rest of us, especially me fall sick a lot, especially with malaria.
This is not about habits because we all grew up together and we have similar health habits. We are all generally neat and we all had the same diet while growing up.
Why is this so?

kokomilala:
And, if anyone needs help concerning malaria, I'm willing to humbly help.I've discovered how to finally prevent it.