What Are the Symptoms of Sickle Cell Crisis?
Symptoms of sickle cell crisis include: • Severe pain • Anemia • Chest pain and difficulty breathing • Strokes • Joint pain and arthritis • Blockage of blood flow in the spleen or liver • Severe infections Patients with sickle cell disease develop severe pain in the chest, back, arms, legs, and abdomen. Pain can occur anywhere in the body. Sickle red blood cells in the lungs can cause severe illness with chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. Sickle cell disease can also cause permanent damage to the brain, heart, kidneys, liver, spleen, and bones. The severity and symptoms vary greatly from person to person, even within the same family.
