Final answer:
Children with sickle cell anemia should be screened for malaria due to their increased susceptibility to this disease and the protective advantage that sickle cell trait offers in regions where malaria is endemic.
Step-by-step explanation:
Children with sickle cell anemia should be screened primarily for malaria due to their vulnerability to this condition. Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disease characterized by sickle-shaped red blood cells that impair oxygen perfusion into the blood, causing various symptoms including anemia and potential complications from hindered blood flow. Screening for malaria is critically important in regions where it is endemic because individuals with sickle cell trait have been shown to possess some resistance to malaria, which offers a protective advantage in those environments.