Emergency Guide: When to See the Doctor
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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?
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]
- Page last reviewed: July 27, 2017
- Page last updated: July 27, 2017
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