Symptoms when your child has sickle cell anemia

Sickle cell disease is considered one of the dangerous diseases and has a high risk of death. This disease is common in children and it is still difficult to treat. 

Sickle cell anemia , also known as sickle cell anemia, is a genetic anemia. Sickle cells are a condition in which there aren't enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen around the body.

There are many possible symptoms and complications. In addition to chronic anemia, the disease can also impair the baby's vision , causing fatigue and many other symptoms such as:

1. Occurrence of severe pain

Sudden severe pain in a part of the body, where sickle cells get stuck and block the flow of oxygen to the tissues. The pain can occur in any part, including fingers and toes (limb syndrome) or in the chest and long bones of the body.

When a baby has pain caused by sickle red blood cells, parents should take them to the hospital immediately. Pain is very unusual, can be once a year or more than 15 times a year.

2. Spleen-related problems

These defective cells can sometimes attach to the spleen, causing a sudden drop in hemoglobin and severe anemia. The sudden increase in blood volume causes the spleen to swell and become painful, called a binding of platelets in the spleen.

If platelet retention in the spleen occurs frequently, surgery is required to remove the damaged spleen. This condition usually occurs in children under 4 years old. Your baby's body can function without a spleen, but it will be a difficult time as the body fights off infections.

3. Virus and other bacterial infections

A healthy spleen helps to protect the body from infection by destroying bacteria in the blood. When the stone cells become trapped and damage the spleen, the organ is unable to function properly. As a result, babies with sickle cell disease are more susceptible to infection, especially pneumococcal bacteria.

These infections are very serious. In fact, pneumococcal infection can lead to rapid death. Therefore, parents of children with sickle cell anemia should be on the lookout for signs of infection including fever and unusual symptoms such as vomiting, rapid breathing, coughing, drowsiness, and pain.

4. Stroke

A stroke can happen if sickle cells block a blood vessel in the brain. About 10% of children with sickle cells have a stroke between the age of 4−6 years. Children with a stroke will usually be treated by infusing red blood cells to avoid further damage. Signs of stroke include severe headache, stiff mouth, loss of vision, dizziness, lethargy or exhaustion, or loss of sensation in the face, arms or legs (usually on one side).

5. Red blood cell real estate

Red blood cell aplasia is usually caused by the parvovirus B19 virus, which disrupted red blood cell production for 10 days. When this happens in a healthy person, most people don't realize it, because the blood cells last about 120 days.

When aplastic attack occurs in people with sickle cell syndrome, it can cause a sudden drop in the blood count to a dangerous level, because sickle cells last for only 20 days.

6. Acute chest pain syndrome

This common complication in children with sickle cell anemia is caused by a respiratory infection or sickle cells trapped in the lungs. Similar to pneumonia, acute chest pain syndrome causes difficulty breathing, chest pain, and fever. This can quickly be life threatening. In fact, acute chest syndrome is the most common cause of death in sickle cell disease patients.

7. Eye problems

The retina does not have enough oxygen from the blood, which adversely affects the eyes, even leading to blindness. Doctors often treat babies with lasers to help prevent vision loss in red blood cell patients experiencing eye damage.

8. Jaundice

The liver filters and removes toxins from the blood. When the liver has difficulty controlling red blood cells, bilirubin (a pigment caused by the breakdown of hemoglobin) accumulates. This can cause jaundice of the skin and eyes.

Sickle cell disease is a dangerous disease that needs to be treated promptly, so it is best for parents to take their baby to see a doctor for effective treatment guidance.