People with sickle cell disease (SCD) start to have signs of the disease during the first year of life, usually around 5 months of age. Symptoms and complications of SCD are different for each person and can range from mild to severe. People with SCD can experience different complications, but some of the common ones are listed below. Show Sickled red blood cells can make it more likely for the blood to clot, increasing a person’s chance of developing a blood clot in a deep vein (deep vein thrombosis or DVT), commonly in the leg, thigh, pelvis, and arm. A DVT can break off and travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolism or PE). A DVT and PE can cause serious illness, disability, and in some cases, death. People with a DVT may not experience symptoms, but the most common signs and symptoms of a DVT that occur in the affected part of the body include:
If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor as soon as possible. A PE can occur without any symptoms of a DVT. Signs and symptoms of PE can include:
If you have any of these symptoms, seek medical help immediately. CDC Resources to Learn More
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People with SCD, especially infants and children, are more likely to experience harmful infections, such as the flu, meningitis, and pneumonia. Pneumonia is a leading cause of death in infants and young children with SCD. People with SCD who require regular transfusions as part of their treatment are also at increased risk for viral hepatitis. Symptoms may vary by the type of infection, but fever may be the first sign. An infection can be life-threatening for people with SCD, and they should go to the emergency department or hospital immediately for treatment if they think they might have an infection. Children and adults with SCD should get all recommended vaccinations, including a flu vaccination. People with SCD are considered “high risk” for certain infections and should follow a special vaccination schedule for the following vaccines:
Additionally, for children under 5 years of age, daily penicillin (or other antibiotic prescribed by a doctor) is recommended. CDC Resources to Learn More
Poor circulation of blood in the leg can lead to painful leg ulcers, usually on the lower part of the leg. Leg ulcers happen more often in males than in females and usually appear in people aged 10 to 50 years. A combination of factors can cause ulcers, including trauma, infection, inflammation (swelling), and poor blood flow in the smallest blood vessels of the legs. Common symptoms include:
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The liver is an organ that helps the body digest food and remove toxins. Sickled cells in the liver can cause damage to the liver, leading to liver disease. Additionally, some persons with SCD receive repeated blood transfusions, which can result in excess iron in the body, known as iron overload. Iron overload can also damage the liver. Sickle hepatopathy is a term used to describe the different causes of liver disease in people with SCD. A few health problems that can occur include:
Symptoms can vary by the liver condition, but common symptoms of liver problems can include:
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People with SCD are at greater risk than the general population for problems related to the heart, lung, kidney, and other organs because not enough blood and oxygen is reaching the organs. SCD can lead to multiorgan failure, a life-threatening complication that occurs when multiple organs in the body are not functioning properly due to a lack of blood flow reaching the organs. Symptoms can be different depending on the organ(s) affected but some symptoms can include:
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Pain is the most common complication of SCD, and the top reason that people with SCD go to the emergency department or hospital. Sickled cells traveling through small blood vessels can get stuck and block blood flow throughout the body, causing pain. A pain crisis (vaso-occlusive episode or VOE) can start suddenly, be mild to severe, and can last for any length of time. Pain can occur in any part of the body, but commonly occurs in the hands, feet, chest, and back. Pain that comes suddenly and lasts for a short time is referred to as acute pain. Chronic pain is daily, on-going pain lasting more than 6 months. People with SCD can experience acute pain, chronic pain, and/or both. Opioids are a class of drugs sometimes used to reduce pain. People with SCD should talk with their SCD provider to help make a pain management plan. CDC Resources to Learn More
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Why is iron not good for sickle cell patients?Too much iron is extremely dangerous and causes damage to blood vessels, red blood cells, liver, hormone producing glands and heart. It is very difficult to know what damage due to iron overload in sickle cell patients because the sickle cell disease itself causes organ damage to the same organs affected by iron.
What is the treatment for a child in a sickle cell crisis?Management of sickle cell anemia is usually aimed at avoiding pain episodes, relieving symptoms and preventing complications. Treatments might include medications and blood transfusions. For some children and teenagers, a stem cell transplant might cure the disease.
What is the best way to administer parenteral iron preparations?Parenteral iron can be administered via the intramuscular or intravenous route either directly or as an additive to total parenteral nutrition. Both routes of administration can cause various side effects and a test dose is recommended before therapeutic administration to assess the risk for anaphylaxis.
Which treatment method has greatly improved the prognosis for children with human immunodeficiency virus infection?The introduction of the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has greatly improved survival.
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