Fast or difficult breathing, chest pain, and coughing are signs of acute chest syndrome in the child with sickle cell disease. A child with acute chest syndrome usually will have to go to the hospital for treatment. Anemia A reduced number of red blood cells. Anemia occurs in persons with sickle cell disease because sickled red blood cells do not live as long as normal red blood cells. A child with sickle cell disease cannot make red blood cells fast enough to keep up with the rapid breakdown, so the person with sickle cell disease has fewer red blood cells than normal and is anemic.
Aplastic crisis Occurs when a child's bone marrow temporarily stops producing red blood cells.
A child with aplastic crisis may appear pale and be tired and less active than usual. This puts the child at a risk for infection and they will need to be seen right away by a physician. Capillaries Tiny blood vessels where sickle-shaped blood cells may get trapped and cause problems. Gene The biological units that are passed from both parents to a child. Haemophilus influenzae A type of bacteria that causes infection and can lead to serious problems in the child with sickle cell disease.