However, some of these conditions can cause symptoms similar to sickle cell anemia. The disease occurs primarily in people of African Heritage, with 1 out of 400 African-Americans affected. Repeated crises can lead to damage of the kidneys, lungs, bone, liver, and central nervous system . Acute painful episodes caused by blocked blood vessels and damaged organs may occur and last hours to days affecting the bones of the back, the long bones , and the chest. Blocked blood vessels and damaged organs can cause acute painful episodes.
Some patients have one episode every few years, while others have many episodes per year.
The crises can be severe enough to require admission to the hospital for pain control and intravenous fluids. Many manifestations of this disease are a result of the fragility and inflexibility of the sickle red blood cells. When patients experience dehydration, infection, and low oxygen supply, these fragile red blood cells assume a crescent shape, causing red blood cell destruction and thickening of the blood. The information provided herein should not be used for diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.