COVID‐19 infection and pain in adolescents with sickle cell disease: A case series

Abstract

Abstract Adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD) have been shown to have pain‐related sequelae following COVID‐19 infection. In this case series, we discuss five adolescents with SCD and SARS‐CoV‐2 infection who subsequently developed complex pain circumstances manifested as: (1) increased frequency of acute care visits or admissions for pain; (2) new onset chronic pain; (3) new onset neuropathic pain; (4) escalation in the complexity of pharmacologic therapies; (5) increased use of nonpharmacologic interventions. While more research is needed to fully understand the implications of COVID‐19 infection on pain in adolescents with SCD, these cases suggest the presence of a complex relationship.

Keywords

• anemia
• chronic pain
• COVID‐19
• neuropathic pain
• sickle cell disease
• vaso‐occlusive crisis