Abdulrahman M., 8

Abdulrahman is an 8-year-old boy living with his parents and seven siblings in a two-room apartment without electricity. His father is a commercial motorcycle rider using a borrowed motorcycle, and the family struggles financially. None of the children attend school because the family cannot afford the fees. Abdulrahman has known HbSS sickle cell disease and developed five days of fever, followed by severe lower abdominal pain, painful urination, cola-coloured urine, and worsening yellowing of his eyes. At presentation, he was pale, febrile, and in severe pain. He was diagnosed with severe sickle cell crisis complicated by haemolysis/anaemia, malaria, and urinary tract infection. He received medications, hydration, pain control, infection treatment, and blood transfusion. After seven days of treatment, he improved significantly and was discharged for continued follow-up.

Abdulrahman presented with a serious sickle cell crisis complicated by haemolysis/anaemia, malaria and urinary tract infection, requiring admission, close monitoring and blood transfusion. He responded well to treatment, with significant improvement in pain and general condition, and was discharged clinically stable after 8 days. His immediate prognosis is favourable, but lifelong sickle cell care, regular follow-up, preventive treatment and prompt management of future crises are essential to reduce complications. If left untreated, severe sickle cell crisis with haemolysis, malaria, and urinary infection can rapidly worsen, causing severe anaemia, organ damage, infection-related complications, and potentially death.