Sickle cell disease can cause a wide range of symptoms :

• Infections 

• Anaemia, can lead to headaches, tachycardia, dizziness and fainting.

• Sickle cell crisis

Sickle cell crisis is episodes of pain and is the most common symptom. This occurs when a blood vessel becomes blocked. The pain can be so severe and last for several days to weeks. Frequency changes for each patient, some may have one every week, while others may have less than 1 a year.

Other symptoms include :

• Delayed growth during childhood and puberty 

• Gall stones 

• Bone and joint pain

• Priapism, a persistent and painful erection of the penis

• Leg ulcers

• Stroke

• Acute chest syndrome 

• Hypertension

• Haematuria, blood in urine 

It is not always clear what triggers pain, some link has been made to weather, dehydration, stress, and strenuous exercise. Other triggers can be :

• Smoking and alcohol