Red blood cells carry oxygen. Altered cells tend to pile up and clog small blood vessels resulting in organ damage and bouts of severe pain. There is no cure for the disease. In the U.S., sickle cell anemia occurs mostly among African Americans. About 1 in 12 African Americans are carriers of the abnormal trait.
Carriers usually have no symptoms.
However, if two carriers have children, there is a 1 in 4 chance that a child will have the disease. Infections, stress, loss of body water, or low blood oxygen can provoke a sickle cell crisis. It usually entails severe pain in the abdomen, chest, muscles or bones. There may be jaundice, dark urine, or a low fever. There is an increased risk of a blood infection.