Contact your health care provider whenever you become sick, even with minor illnesses. If you have a sickle cell crisis, you will be given IV fluids and pain medication. You will need to rest. So many red blood cells may be destroyed during the crisis that you may need a blood transfusion. Because abnormal red blood cells are circulating throughout your body, complications can occur in any part of your body.
Infections are the leading cause of death in children with sickle cell disease.
However, early diagnosis and treatment dramatically reduce the risk of infections and death. In 1987, a National Institutes of Health panel recommended that all babies be screened at birth for sickle cell disease. All states now screen babies' blood for two or more inherited diseases, and the test for sickle cell disease is done using the same blood sample. To date, more than 40 states are testing newborns for sickle cell disease. Newborn testing alerts physicians to begin treatment before dangerous infections occur.