7 Major Symptoms Of Sickle Cell Anemia

Sickle cell anemia is one of a group of inherited disorders known as sickle cell disease. It affects the shape of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all parts of the body.

Red blood cells are usually round and flexible, so they move easily through blood vessels. In sickle cell anemia, some red blood cells are shaped like sickles or crescent moons. 

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These sickle cells also become rigid and sticky, which can slow or block blood flow.There’s no cure for most people with sickle cell anemia. Treatments can relieve pain and help prevent complications associated with the disease.

Symptoms Of Sickle Cell Anemia

Sickle cell anemia often starts rearing its ugly head around six months of age and the symptoms vary from person to person. Some of the symptoms include:

Anemia: Sickle cells break apart easily and die. Red blood cells usually live for about 120 days before they need to be replaced. But sickle cells typically die in 10 to 20 days, leaving a shortage of red blood cells (anemia). Without enough red blood cells, the body can’t get enough oxygen and this causes fatigue.

Episodes of pain:  Periodic episodes of extreme pain, called pain crises, are major symptoms of sickle cell anemia. Pain develops when sickle-shaped red blood cells block blood flow through tiny blood vessels to your chest, abdomen, and joints.

Frequent infections: Sickle cells can damage the spleen, increasing vulnerability to infections. Infants and children with sickle cell anemia commonly receive vaccinations and antibiotics to prevent potentially life-threatening infections, such as pneumonia.

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Delayed growth or puberty: Red blood cells provide the body with the oxygen and nutrients needed for growth. A shortage of healthy red blood cells can slow growth in infants and children and delay puberty in teenagers.

Vision problems: Tiny blood vessels that supply the eyes can become plugged with sickle cells. This can damage the retina — the portion of the eye that processes visual images — and lead to vision problems.

The symptoms however can change course, become severe, and ultimately life-threatening, in this case, it is pertinent to seek emergency treatment.

Stroke is one of the major life-threatening complications that might arise due to Sickle Cell disease. The major symptoms of stroke include:

• One sided paralysis in the face or an arm
• Confusion
• Difficulty walking or talking
• Sudden vision changes
• Unexplained numbness
• Severe headache

Sickle Cell Variants

Sickle cell is not one variant, it shares a lot of features with other classes of the disease. Some of the classes can be identified with their distinct classifications.

• SS- This stands for Sickle Cell Anemia

• SC- This stands for Sickle-C Hemoglobin

• SB- This stands for Sickle Beta-Plus Thalassemia

• SD- This stands for Sickle Hemoglobin-D Disease

• SO- This stands for Sickle Hemoglobin-O Disease

All variants share almost the same symptoms and should be treated with the same level of seriousness because they are equally dangerous. Sickle cell is however not a death certificate, early detection can adequate care can limit the pain and allow the carrier to live a happy and normal life.

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