People with sickle cell anemia experience painful episodes known as crises. These crises can last for several hours or for a few days. Crises create pain in the lower back, leg, joints and chest. As the sickle cell anemia progresses, symptoms may include:
- Accelerated heart beat
- Fatigue
- Jaundice
- Paleness
- Shortness of breath
- Stomach pain
The spleen in patients with sickle cell anemia may stop functioning. As a result, the disease leads to infection of the bone, gallbladder, lung and urinary tract.
Test commonly used to diagnose sickle cell anemia include:
- Bilirubin
- Blood oxygen saturation
- CBC – Complete blood count
- Hemoglobin electrophoresis
- Serum creatinine
- Serum potassium
- Sickle cell test
NEXT: Treatment Options ›