Lukman Y., 3

Three-year-old Lukman Yahuza is a joyful child living with sickle cell disease. He lives with his parents and 6-year-old brother. His father is a plumber, while his mother is a housewife, and the family survives on less than ₦10,000 monthly. They struggle to afford food, healthcare, electricity, and even regular access to water. Lukman presented with four days of severe limb and back pain, high-grade fever with chills, marked pallor, poor feeding, and excessive sleepiness. His parents also noticed yellowing of his eyes. He was diagnosed with severe anaemia and vaso-occlusive crisis. He was previously hospitalized two months ago for severe malaria through HELPSTER Charity Foundation’s support. Timely treatment is critical to helping Lukman recover.

Lukman, a known SCD patient, was admitted with 4 days history of severe body pains, high grade fever, and marked pallor. Investigations revealed PCV 17%, positive RDT/MP for P. falciparum +++. He was managed with 1 unit of packed red blood cell transfusion, IV Artesunate for 3 days then completed with oral ACT, IV fluids with caution, IV Tramadol + IV Diclofenac for VOC pain, Folic Acid, and Penicillin V. Fever subsided by day 2. Pain improved by day 4 and he became active. Repeat PCV post-transfusion was 27%. He was stable, feeding well, and fit for discharge on oral medications and close follow-up

With urgent treatment including blood transfusion, IV antimalarials, fluids, and pain management, Lukman’s severe anemia and malaria will correct, the vaso-occlusive crisis will resolve, and he is expected to regain strength, resume normal play, and have a good quality of life. Adherence to Folic Acid, Penicillin V prophylaxis, hydration, and malaria prevention will reduce the frequency of future crises and hospital admissions. If left untreated, the severe anemia and malaria combined with SCD could lead to heart failure, stroke, organ damage, or death, and recurrent VOCs would severely affect his growth and development