Your body’s normal reaction to having an illness or an infection is a fever. A fever is a body temperature that is higher than normal. For most people, normal is 98.6°F. Identifying and managing a fever early is important because infections can be serious in people with sickle cell disease.
Infections are one the most common causes of death in people with sickle cell disease.
The risk of infection is increased because the spleen — which acts as a filter for bacteria — does not work normally in people with sickle cell disease. In some cases, the spleen has been removed, In most cases, the spleen stops working to protect the body from infection in infancy.
Infections can happen in the blood, lungs, spinal fluid, or urinary tract system (kidneys and bladder).
wash your hands often
Make sure you have the right vaccinations
(see the Vaccines Prevent Life-Threatening Infections section for more information)
Make sure you and other family members in the home get the flu shot every year.
If you are not admitted to the hospital, you may be seen again the next day in clinic, or you may be called at home to see how you are doing.
If you are at home, but continue to have a fever 24 hours after being seen, you will need to go to the clinic or emergency room again for additional care.
Your provider may ask that you take penicillin every day, especially if you had an infection caused by bacteria or had your spleen removed.
Fever checklist
For you and your health care provider
Section overview
