Manariya S., 9

Manariya is a 9 year old female child currently staying with her parents. They live in a 2 rooms apartment. They traveled about 50km to get help from Helpster Charity in Bauchi. The father is a farmer, the mother is a house wife. They find it very difficult to feed. The family's monthly income is 10000, source of water is well, no electricity, they use pit latrine. A known sickle cell patient who was healthy until 3 days ago when she started having abdominal pain associated with upper and lower limbs pain on a background of productive cough of whitish sputum. She vomits occasionally after eating or drinking. Patient’s condition deteriorated to crisis level last night which necessitated coming to hospital this morning. On examination, she looks very ill and in painful crisis. Patient is jaundiced, pale, febrile acyanosed. She was diagnosed with Hemolytic crisis in SCD She was rushed to the hospital after hearing about the help that Helpster is giving. She was properly evaluated.

Manariya, a 9yo female known sickle cell patient who was healthy until 3 days ago when she started having abdominal pain associated with upper and lower limbs pain on a background of productive cough of whitish sputum. She vomits occasionally after eating or drinking. Patient’s condition deteriorated to crisis level last night which necessitated coming to hospital this morning. On examination, a 9yo girl child looking very ill and in painful crisis. Patient is jaundiced, pale, febrile acyanosed. She was diagnosed with Hemolytic crisis in SCD. She was admitted and was managed with some injection antibiotics, pain killers, antimalarials and other supportive care until patient was stable. No more having complaints of pains. She was discharged with some drugs and family remains grateful for the support given.

Manariya was diagnosed of sickle Cell Disease (SCD), an inherited genetic blood disorder that causes red blood cells to lose their flexible, round shape and become rigid, sticky, and crescent- or "sickle"-shaped. These abnormal cells break down prematurely, leading to chronic anemia, and easily get stuck in small blood vessels, blocking blood flow. This blockage deprives tissues of oxygen, triggering sudden, excruciating pain episodes known as vaso-occlusive crises and causing progressive damage to vital organs over time. The prognosis for Sickle Cell Disease has improved significantly with modern medical advancements, transforming it from a fatal childhood illness into a manageable chronic condition where many individuals survive well into their 40s, 50s, and beyond.