10 Sickle Cell Anemia Symptoms
Symptom #4: Fever
Fever or pyrexia occurs when the temperature of the body is above the normal range due to the increase in the body’s set point of temperature. This increased set point causes a sensation of coldness and muscle contraction to produce and conserve heat.
In sickle cell disease, the presence of a fever is most likely due to an infection. Repeated episodes of vaso-occlusion in the spleen, can lead to splenic infarctions and autosplenectomy (shrunken and non-functional spleen). The spleen plays an important role in the body’s immunological response (i.e. an important source of antibody production). Thus, patients without a functioning spleen are susceptible to frequent severe infections caused by encapsulated pathogens (i.e. Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae). Also, patients with sickle cell anemia have an increased risk of Salmonella osteomyelitis (bone infection). This is why vaccinations are especially important to help prevent potentially life-threatening infections.
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