Sickle cell anemia is a subtype of
hemolytic anemia. Sickle red blood cells are fragilite and inflexible. These fragile sickle cells become crescent shaped when patients experience infection, dehydration, and low oxygen supply. The shape change causes red blood cell destruction and poor flow of the blood cells through blood vessels. This results in
anemia, a lack of oxygen to the body's tissues.
Sickle cell anemia is an inherited disease. It is caused by an abnormal type of hemoglobin called hemoglobin S. It occurs in someone who has inherited hemoglobin S from both parents.
Sickle cells function abnormally and cause small blood clots. These clots cause recurrent painful episodes called "sickle cell pain crises.".
Symptoms of sickle cell anemia:
attacks of abdominal pain
breathlessness
delayed growth and puberty
fatigue
fever bone pain
jaundice
joint pain and other bone pain
rapid heart rate
susceptibility to infections
ulcers on the lower legs (in adolescents and adults)
Additional symptoms that may be associated with sickle cell anemia::
bloody urine (hematuria)
chest pain
excessive urination, excessive volume
thirst, excessive
unwanted painful erection (priapism; this occurs in 10-40% of men with the disease)
poor eyesight/blindness
