Early warning signs of sickle cell you need to know

Written by: Dr Subita Alagh Reviewed by: Dr. Swati Mishra 19 June 2025

What Is Sickle Cell Disease?

[{"selector":"#anim-09218f3c-58ae-41bf-b26a-9080875ab21a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-736e4d0c-39c9-4dc5-9cf4-ea3704079856","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 121.46463%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aeb5e681-6af4-4276-90fb-ec7a9d03c5a7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ddc81479-7819-4cc1-80c1-85a227429e65","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 488.39156%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder where red blood cells become C-shaped instead of round. These sickle-shaped cells can block blood flow and break down faster, leading to pain and anemia. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Why It Happens

[{"selector":"#anim-84aa92a8-101f-403c-a16c-928f87c9a826","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-996049d1-b3d8-4f29-a7f7-40dc62042364","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 119.27439%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-988440ac-e7b3-4813-ba95-a2841e6b558b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8b3acfd1-82c6-4be3-a70e-8b9072fd027e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 908.95105%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] It starts with a gene. You inherit the disease when both parents pass down the sickle cell gene. These genes make the body produce abnormal hemoglobin, which causes red cells to change shape and get stuck in blood vessels. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Common Symptoms to Watch

[{"selector":"#anim-b149f9f4-a757-4f43-8205-7e13412b97b6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-246fc19b-1cd3-44ba-bea6-bc701edbb4cd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 129.88663%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4f7f15d2-a8d9-4d73-ad34-350f8d02f253","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4b5e0982-8c07-4ca3-85e1-eedfdd0493a7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 567.49605%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The most common signs are pain (called a pain crisis) and anemia. Crises can be triggered by cold, dehydration, or stress, or appear without a cause. Anemia leads to fatigue, breathlessness, and paleness. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Eary Signs to watch For

[{"selector":"#anim-c992f498-9254-4e50-b3dc-5fed5d934407","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a5d91c6a-90ab-4d83-ae7a-4e8666efdb75","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 217.96039%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-00e4c7d6-72e1-487f-bebb-9620f194823c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d4b3bc32-9050-4be5-b1ef-9cf9e5c8d2f9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 567.49605%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] – Tiredness – Pale skin or lips – Dizziness or irritability – Trouble focusing – Yellowing eyes (jaundice) Photo Credit: Shutterstock

How It’s Diagnosed

[{"selector":"#anim-8f47e383-d784-4669-b293-fe7a423b6948","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4549206e-769f-4704-ad83-a96f0ecc5f86","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 144.64645%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7fc8ee8a-7fd4-4693-abff-9b5d0a9d29fe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f1cd0c51-ddea-49d3-8490-719bd7a39bb9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 964.5067%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Most are diagnosed at birth. Newborns are screened through a routine blood test. Confirmatory testing (like hemoglobin electrophoresis) or prenatal tests can diagnose it before birth in high-risk families. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Can You Be a Carrier?

[{"selector":"#anim-ee0a31ce-e97d-48a9-9691-796d203a7e84","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-09a60ce2-5267-499d-850b-9be8f8a24c96","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 163.19088%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a8c7c3d9-93ce-4e9b-825b-cec9ccfca44c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ccbb0589-0264-4620-ab59-60d820d9cc02","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 964.5067%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Yes, it’s called Sickle Cell Trait. If you carry one sickle gene, you usually don’t show symptoms but can pass it to your child. Knowing your status helps in planning for the future. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Know Your Risk, Get Tested

[{"selector":"#anim-01156ee3-a857-4401-a0d7-81d8180a0712","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0c6dc46a-b0bf-475b-b28f-f8aa680466cd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 518.24235%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2f83ee06-75e6-4a84-8430-74955e1ce8b5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-45576774-2837-4dba-810f-fd71d9858092","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 260.43073%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Credit: Shutterstock A simple test can tell you if you carry the gene. Book a sickle cell test today.