Manifestations of sickle cell disease may include which of the following?

• A. Fever
• B. Anemia
• C. Vomiting
• D. Bradycardia

Answer: (B)

Sickle cell disease causes ongoing destruction of red blood cells (hemolysis) due to abnormal hemoglobin S. This leads to a reduced number of circulating RBCs and diminished oxygen delivery to tissues, which is why anemia is a hallmark manifestation. You’ll often see fatigue, pallor, and a higher heart rate as the body tries to compensate for the low hemoglobin. Lab tests typically show low hemoglobin with reticulocytosis as the bone marrow ramps up production, and bilirubin may be elevated from increased red cell breakdown.

Fever can occur with infections or during crises, and vomiting can happen for various reasons, but these are not the defining feature of the disease’s basic pathology. Bradycardia is not expected; if anything, tachycardia is more common to compensate for anemia.