Precious A., 13

Meet Precious, a child who has sickle cell disease. To prevent sickle cell crises, she takes medicine every day. She's a friendly girl who enjoys reading novels and magazines. When she grows up, she dreams of becoming a teacher. Recently, she was brought to the hospital because she felt weak all over, had a sore throat, and had a fever.

Since 2012, Precious has been grappling with sickle cell anemia, requiring medication to bolster her hemoglobin levels. Despite not experiencing a crisis, she sought medical attention due to persistent coughing. Following her visit, she received treatment and was prescribed hydroxyurea to further enhance her overall health.

If left untreated or if the immune system is weakened, the infection can sometimes spread to other parts of the respiratory tract, causing conditions like bronchitis or pneumonia. Untreated strep throat can lead also to many potential complications. Bacterial pharyngitis, specifically strep throat, is typically treated with antibiotics, such as penicillin or amoxicillin. The inflammatory response can damage organs, leading to their dysfunction or failure. Septicaemia is a leading cause of death, particularly if not promptly treated. Survivors may experience long-term physical, emotional, and cognitive effects. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are administered through an intravenous (IV) line to target and combat the underlying infection.