At a glance
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of inherited blood disorders associated with severe pain and complications that can affect the entire body. This page provides information on SCD and fever.
Overview
A fever may be the first sign of an infection or other SCD-related complication, such as acute chest syndrome, that can be life-threatening. For infants and children with SCD, a fever may be the only sign of an infection. It's important for people with SCD to go to the emergency department or hospital for a fever of 101.3 degrees Fahrenheit or 38.5 Celsius or greater.