Sickle cell anemia complications

The three most feared complications of sickle cell anemia include:
Stroke: Stroke is more common in children than in adults; it occurs in 10% of children with sickle cell anemia. Two forms of stroke can occur in people who have sickle cell anemia. One form occurs when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked. The other form occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. A stroke can cause learning disabilities and/or lasting brain damage, long-term disability, paralysis (an inability to move), or death.

Acute chest syndrome: This is a potentially life-threatening condition, it is similar to pneumonia, but is caused by a lung infection or trapped sickle cells in the blood vessels of your lungs. It requires emergency medical treatment with antibiotics, blood transfusions and drugs that open up airways in your lungs. Recurrent attacks can damage your lungs.

Infections: Both children and adults with sickle cell anemia are more vulnerable to infections and have a harder time fighting them off. This is the result of spleen damage from sickled red cells, thus preventing the spleen from destroying bacteria in the blood. Infants and young children, especially, are susceptible to bacterial infections that can kill them in as little as 9 hours from onset of fever. Pneumococcal infections used to be the principal cause of death in children with sickle cell anemia until physicians began routinely giving penicillin on a preventive basis to those who are diagnosed at birth or in early infancy.

Other complications of sickle cell disease may include:
Gallstones: The breakdown of red blood cells produces a substance called bilirubin. Bilirubin is responsible for yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice) in people with sickle cell anemia. A high level of bilirubin in your body can also lead to gallstones.

Bone Infarcts: Inadequate circulation of the blood, also causes areas of death of bone infarction. localized bone death, is a result of inadequate oxygen supply to the bone. While virtually any bone can be affected, the most common are the bones of the thighs, legs, and arms. The result can permanently damage or deform the hips, shoulders, or knees.

Priapism: Priapism is condition that males who have sickle cell anemia may have painful and unwanted erections. It happens because the sickle cells block blood flow out of an erect penis. Over time, priapism can damage the penis and lead to impotence.

Leg Ulcers: Sickle cell anemia can cause open sores, it usually begin as small, raised, crusted sores on the lower third of the leg. Leg sores appear between the ages of 10 and 50, and males more than females.

Dactylitis and Arthritis: Swelling and inflammation of the hands or feet is often appear in early sickle cell anemia. The swelling involves entire fingers or toes and is called dactylitis. Dactylitis generally occurs in children with sickle cell anemia from age 6 months to 8 years. Arthritis with pain, swelling, tenderness, and limited range of motion can accompany the dactylitis.

Disease of the retina in the eye: Sickle cells anemia also can clog the small blood vessels that deliver oxygen-rich blood to your eyes, this can damage the retina. Without enough blood, the retinas will weaken. This can cause eyes problems, including blindness.