Children who inherit the mutation from only one parent will not have the disease, but will carry the trait for it and can pass it on to their children. The most common sign of sickle cell anemia is having the sickle-shaped red blood cell that blocks the flow of blood through the vessels. Anemia is a common blood disorder, which is caused when there is a drop in hemoglobin or hematocrit in the blood. Hemoglobin is the part of blood that distributes oxygen from the lungs to tissues in the body. Hematocrit is the measurement of the percentage of red blood cells found in a specific volume of blood.
Anemia is usually a symptom of a disease rather than a disease itself.
Anemia may be a symptom of another disease. The following are the most common symptoms for anemia, however, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Because anemia is often a symptom associated with another disease, it is important for a physician to be aware of symptoms of anemia. Consult your physician for a diagnosis. The symptoms of sickle cell anemia may resemble other blood disorders or medical problems.