Sickle Cell Disease: symptoms, causes & treatment in Nigeria
Also known as SS, sickler.
This page is general health information, not a diagnosis. Always consult a licensed clinician about your own health.
Overview
Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder, common in Nigeria, in which red blood cells become stiff and crescent-shaped, blocking small blood vessels and causing painful crises and anaemia. It occurs when a child inherits the sickle gene from both parents — which is why genotype testing before marriage is so strongly advised. With good routine care, people with SCD live increasingly full lives.
Symptoms
Episodes of severe bone, chest or abdominal pain (crises)
Chronic tiredness and paleness
Yellowing of the eyes
Swollen, painful hands and feet in young children
Frequent infections
Delayed growth in children
Leg ulcers in older patients
Causes & risk factors
Inheriting the sickle haemoglobin gene from both parents (genotype SS)
Crisis triggers: dehydration, infection, cold, stress and overexertion
Malaria worsening anaemia and triggering crises
Treatment & self-care
Routine care includes daily folic acid, malaria prevention, prompt treatment of infections, plenty of fluids and regular clinic follow-up; doctors may prescribe hydroxyurea to reduce crises. Painful crises are managed with prescribed pain relief, warmth, fluids and rest, with hospital care for severe episodes. Knowing your genotype — and your partner's — prevents the disease in the next generation.
See a doctor urgently if
Pain crisis not controlled by usual home measures
Fever in anyone with sickle cell disease
Chest pain, cough or difficulty breathing
Sudden weakness, slurred speech or one-sided numbness
Sudden severe paleness or an enlarging spleen in a child
Frequently asked questions
What are the first signs of Sickle Cell Disease?
Early signs often include episodes of severe bone, chest or abdominal pain (crises), chronic tiredness and paleness, yellowing of the eyes. Symptoms vary from person to person, so a proper assessment by a doctor is the only way to be sure.
Can Sickle Cell Disease be treated?
Routine care includes daily folic acid, malaria prevention, prompt treatment of infections, plenty of fluids and regular clinic follow-up; doctors may prescribe hydroxyurea to reduce crises. Painful crises are managed with prescribed pain relief, warmth, fluids and rest, with hospital care for severe episodes. Knowing your genotype — and your partner's — prevents the disease in the next generation.
When should I see a doctor about Sickle Cell Disease?
See a doctor promptly if you notice: pain crisis not controlled by usual home measures; fever in anyone with sickle cell disease; chest pain, cough or difficulty breathing; sudden weakness, slurred speech or one-sided numbness; sudden severe paleness or an enlarging spleen in a child.
See an MDCN-verified doctor about sickle cell disease by video, audio or chat — then order medicine, book a lab test or get a home visit from the same app.