What are the symptoms of sickle cell disorders?
Although sickle cell disorders are present from birth, symptoms are rare before the age of three to six months, due to the persistence of foetal haemoglobin ( Hb F ). The main symptoms of sickle cell disorders are anaemia, pain or infection. The episodic exacerbation of pain, anaemia or jaundice are called sickle cell crises. Some people get crises quite often; others may have them only once every few years. In between crises the affected person is usually quite well. Most serious acute complications occur during childhood. People with SC disease and some with Sickle Beta -Thalassaemia may never experience a painful crisis but still develop chronic eye, bone or kidney problems. People who only have sickle cell trait do not suffer any of the symptoms of sickle cell disorders. Sickle cell trait is not an illness and people with trait are usually healthy (although very occasionally haematuria may occur). However, they require extra oxygen during anaesthesia and surgical operations, and ar
