Fever
Nausea
Swollen hands and feet
Pain in the:
- Chest
- Belly
- Arms and legs
- Bones and joints
- Penis—from long erections
Symptoms of anemia, such as:
- Tiredness, headache, or lightheadedness
- Breathing problems
Yellowish eyes and skin—jaundice

Sickle cell disease can lead to other conditions. They may be:

Heart and blood vessel problems, such as:
- Enlarged heart
- Heart attack and heart failure
- Blood clots and strokes
Skin and gum problems
Vision problems
Kidney infections and kidney damage
Bone problems
Problems with the spleen, liver, or gallbladder
Delayed puberty
Learning and behavior problems

Pain crisis can be triggered by:

Smoking
Exercise
Changes in oxygen levels and air pressure
Fever or infection
Dehydration

References:

Pinto VM, Balocco M, Quintino, et al. Sickle cell disease: a review for the internist. Intern Emerg Med. 2019 Oct;14(7):1051-1064.

Sickle cell disease. Kids Health—Nemours Foundation website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed January 29, 2021.

Sickle cell disease in adults and adolescents. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/sickle-cell-disease-in-adults-and-adolescents . Accessed March 3, 2021.

Sickle cell disease in infants and children. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/sickle-cell-disease-in-infants-and-children Accessed March 3, 2021.

What are the signs and symptoms of sickle cell disease? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed January 29, 2021.

Last reviewed March 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Marcin Chwistek, MD
Last Updated: 3/3/2021

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