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Bone marrow transplant, also known as stem cell transplant, offers the only potential cure for sickle cell anemia. It's usually reserved for people younger than age 16 because the risks increase for people older than 16. In a red blood cell transfusion, red blood cells are removed from a supply of donated blood, then given intravenously to a person with sickle cell anemia. Blood transfusions increase the number of normal red blood cells in circulation, helping to relieve anemia.

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General Symptoms in Infants. In infants, symptoms do not usually appear until late in the baby's first year. Most commonly, they include:

Fever

Swelling of the hands and feet

Pain in the chest, abdomen, limbs, and joints

Nosebleeds and frequent upper respiratory infections

General Symptoms in Children. Pain is the most common complaint. It can be acute and severe or chronic, usually from orthopedic problems in the legs and low back. Other symptoms include:

Fatigue and shortness of breath (signs of anemia)

Irritability

Jaundice (yellowish discoloration of the skin and eyes)

Additional Symptoms in Adolescence or Adulthood. Symptoms from childhood continue in adolescence and adulthood. In addition, patients may have:

Delayed puberty (in young teenagers)

Severe joint pain

Progressive anemia

Leg sores

Gum disease

Vision problems

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Sickle cell disease is caused by a mutation in the hemoglobin-Beta gene found on chromosome 11. Hemoglobin transports oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body. Red blood cells with normal hemoglobin (hemoglobin-A) are smooth and round and glide through blood vessels.

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As recently as 1973, the average lifespan for people with sickle cell disease was only 14 years. Today, life expectancy for these patients can reach 50 years and beyond. Women with sickle cell usually live longer than their male counterparts.