Emergency Guide: When to See the Doctor

It is very important that every person or family with a young child with sickle cell disease have a plan for how to get help immediately, at any hour, if there’s a problem. Be sure to find a place that will have access to your medical records or bring a copy.

Do You Use the Emergency Department for Care of SCD?

Check out our fact sheet about what to know before you go. [PDF – 261 KB]

Go to an emergency room or urgent care facility right away for:

• Fever above 101° F
• Difficulty breathing
• Chest pain
• Abdominal (belly) swelling
• Severe headache
• Sudden weakness or loss of feeling and movement
• Seizure
• Painful erection of the penis that lasts more than 4 hours

Call a doctor right away for:

• Pain anywhere in the body that will not go away with treatment at home
• Any sudden problem with vision

Download and print our emergency guide tip sheet [PDF – 2 MB]