In infants between 8 months and 2 years old, an acute sequestration crisis may cause sudden massive entrapment of red cells in the spleen and liver. This rare crisis causes lethargy and pallor, and if untreated, can progress hypovolemic shock and death. In fact, it's the most common cause of death in sickle cell children under 1 year. Hemolytic crisis . It probably results from complications of sickle cell anemia, such as infection, rather than from the disorder itself.
Hemolytic crisis causes liver congestion and hepatomegaly as a result of degenerative changes.
It worsens chronic jaundice although increased jaundice doesn't always point to a hemolytic crisis. Long-Term Complications . Sickle cell anemia also causes a number of long-term complications. Typically, children with sickle cell anemia are small for the age, and puberty is delayed. An adult usually has complications stemming from infarction of various organs, such as retinopathy and nephropathy.