Khadija A., 14

Fourteen-year-old Khadija lives with sickle cell disease, staying with her mother and grandparents who share the load of raising her on about 10,000 naira a month. Some terms her school fees are paid by her mother, other times by her grandparents, and sometimes there is simply no money at all. In the night hours, Khadija was rushed to the clinic in a bone crisis, crying with severe pain in both legs and unable to move them, as sickled blood cells blocked the vessels feeding her bones. She arrived ill-looking and burning with fever, was diagnosed with a vaso-occlusive bone crisis, and was immediately admitted and commenced on treatment.

Khadijah experienced an acute bone crisis secondary to sickle cell disease, requiring prompt pain management, hydration, antipyretic treatment, close monitoring, and assessment for infection or other triggers. With early and appropriate treatment, the prognosis is generally favorable, and her pain and mobility are expected to improve. However, recurrent crises can lead to complications and functional limitations. If left untreated, a severe crisis may worsen, resulting in dehydration, infection, tissue damage, and prolonged hospitalization. Timely treatment is therefore critical to helping Khadijah recover and return to her normal activities.