Sickle Cell and Acute Chest Syndrome — Discharge Instructions — Clinical Pathway: Inpatient

Sickle Cell and Acute Chest Syndrome Clinical Pathway — Inpatient

Discharge Instructions

Sickle Cell Disease: Acute Chest Syndrome

Acute chest syndrome can be a serious problem for children with sickle cell disease. The sickle-shaped blood cells of sickle cell disease can get stuck in blood vessels and cause damage in the body. When this happens in the lungs, it is called acute chest syndrome (ACS). In children, this is often caused by an infection and/or a pain crisis. Your child is doing much better after care in the hospital and now can be cared for at home.

Please call the sickle cell nurse at (215-590-3437) or the hematologist on call (215-590-1000) if your child develops any of the following:

  • New fever greater than or equal to 101 Fahrenheit (after 24 hours of no fever)
  • New or increased cough
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Shortness of breath
  • New or increased chest pain
  • Pain or discomfort with breathing
  • Pain not being relieved by medications your child was sent home with
  • More tired than usual
  • Pale skin color
  • Severe headache or new neurologic symptoms such as weakness, limping, slurred speech, or vision changes.

To help your child to recover, please do the following:

  • Continue giving medications as you were instructed.
  • If you were told to stop giving Penicillin vk while your child completes the antibiotic prescribed in the hospital, please be sure to restart giving the penicillin vk once the other antibiotic course is complete
  • Help your child to use the incentive spirometer. Perform 10 repetitions and repeat every 2 hours
  • Call the sickle cell nurse or the hematologist-on-call if your child's symptoms worsen.
  • Keep your clinic appointments.