Abubakar M., 16

Abubakar, a 16-year-old intelligent boy and class monitor, dreams of becoming a medical doctor. He has been managing sickle cell disease, but recently, he began experiencing mild body pain and weakness, which escalated to severe pain, dizziness, and body swelling. Upon presenting at our facility, he was found to be weak, pale, and having respiratory difficulties. After a thorough evaluation and investigations, he was diagnosed with a vaso-occlusive and anemic crisis precipitated by malaria. He requires urgent medical care and approval from Helpster.

Abubakar is a known SCA patient who is not regular with medications due to financial constraints, hospitalized for 5days and managed as a case of mixed crisis (VOC + Anaemic) precipitated by Malaria. During the period of admission, he had 2 units of blood transfused, IV Artesunate 120mg 3doses, IV Tandak 1.5g 12hourly for 5days, IV Paracetamol 600mg 8hourly for 48hours, IV Fluid Ringers lactate IL 8hourly for 48hours, Tabs Proguanil 120mg daily, Tabs folic acid 5mg daily. Abubakar has responded to the treatment as his condition significantly improved evidenced by the resolving of his symptoms. He was discharged with Tabs Folic acid 5mg after the 5th day of admission and was given follow-up appointment of 1 week.

If the condition is not treated, the pain associated with a sickle cell crisis can become more severe and prolonged, significantly affecting a person's quality of life. Reduced blood flow and oxygen supply to organs can result in damage to vital organs, including the spleen, liver, kidneys, and lungs. Individuals with sickle cell disease are more susceptible to infections, and a crisis can weaken the immune system, making them even more vulnerable to infections. In some cases, the blockage of blood vessels can lead to a stroke, which can cause lasting neurological damage. Treatment for a sickle cell crisis involves pain management,In some cases, blood transfusions may be necessary to replace sickled red blood cells with healthy ones and improve oxygen delivery.