Complications

In addition to the normal symptoms or Sickle Cell Anaemia, other associated conditions can arise mostly due to blood vessel blockage.

Hand-Foot Syndrome

This is where the small blood vessels to the hands and feet are blocked. This leads to pain, swelling and fever. This may be the first symptom in infants. 

 Splenic Crisis

This is where the blood vessel leading out of the Spleen get blocked, as blood cannot get out of the spleen it enlarges and causes Anaemia.  Sickle cells can also can trapped inside the Spleen causing it to shrink, and not create blood cells. Infections can also arise more easily as the Spleen is damaged.

Pneumonia is most common cause of death in infants with Sickle Cell Anaemia. Menigitis, influenza and Hepatitis are common in people with Sickle Cell Anaemia.

Acute chest Syndrome

This is where Sickle Cells get trapped in the lungs but can also be caused by an infection, this condition causes chest pain and fever, and leads to Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Pulmonary Arterial  Hypertension

This is when the small blood vessels in the lungs are damaged. Blood pressure then rises in the lungs leading to breathing difficulties.

Delayed growth in Infants

Children with Sickle Cell Anaemia have delayed growth and are smaller than normal children.  Adults are thinner are smaller than normal.

Strokes

Two types of strokes can happen in people with Sickle Cell Anaemia, one type occurs when blood vessels in the brain are blocked, with the other type happening when these rupture.

Eye problems

The small blood vessels leading to the eyes can easily become blocked with sickle cells; this damages the retina and can lead to blindness.

Priapism

This condition occurs when Sickle Cells block blood flow out of the Penis, this causes painful and unwanted erections.

Gallstones

As Sickle Cells die early this causes a build-up of Bilirubin. Excess Bilirubin causes Gallstones to form in the Gallbladder. Gallstones cause steady pain for 30 minutes around the Gallbladder, especially after eating a fatty meal.

Leg Ulcers

The reason for these sores in unknown but they are more prevalent in males than females. These Ulcers can heal or persist for years; the ones that heal normally come back.

Multiple organ failure

Multiple organ failure can happen when a Sickle Cell Crisis causes two out of the three main organs to fail.