Officials at NHS England have issued an alert on X, formerly Twitter, urging people to learn the warning signs and symptoms of a ‘sickle cell crisis’. This medical event can quickly become fatal but experts say that knowing the signs and acting quickly “can save lives”.
Sickle cell disease is a group of conditions that affect the red blood cells, usually leaving it deformed in the shape of a sickle instead of the healthy circle shape that blood cells should have. A sickle cell crisis occurs when these cells become stuck and block blood vessels, which can happen anywhere in the body with potentially devastating outcomes.
Signs of a sickle cell crisis:
- Pain
- Headache
- Numbness
- Fever/cold sweats
- Difficulty walking
- Confusion
- Breathlessness
- Vision changes
- Difficulty talking
- Paralysis
The pain caused by a sickle cell crisis can be severe and last for several days or even weeks. The NHS England alert urged: “A sickle cell crisis can be fatal. Acting quickly saves lives.
“If a sickle cell patient has any of these symptoms, immediate action should be taken to refer them to the emergency department. Their symptoms could be signs of a sickle cell crisis or complication.”
Sickle cell is a genetic condition that is present from birth but some people may experience their first sickle cell crisis before they get diagnosed. In England screening for sickle cell disease is offered as part of the newborn heel prick test.
The disease has a number of treatments including medication and regular blood transfusions. The only cure for sickle cell disease is a stem cell or bone marrow transport which have a lot of risks.
Some people are able to lead normal lives with mild sickle cell disease while others might be heavily affected. It can lead to health problems like strokes, serious infections and lung problems, which can occasionally be fatal and the life expectancy of people with this disease tends to be shorter than the average person without it.
Symptoms of sickle cell disease:
- Painful episodes
- Getting infections often
- Anaemia
Sickle cell can also cause a range of secondary issues like bone and joint pain, jaundice, delayed growth, leg ulcers, eyesight problems, kidney or urinary problems and acute chest syndrome.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
