The crises of chronic or acute pain, of varying intensity and unpredictable recurrence are one of the most common symptoms in sickle cell disease and tend to affect the quality of life of people with this disease. This study examined the impact of pain on daily life and the coping strategies of caregivers and children with sickle cell anemia. The participants were 27 pairs of caregiver-child, being formed by 11 pairs of children treated at the Pediatric Clinic of the Hospital Universitario Cassiano Antonio de Moraes Vitória / ES and sixteen pairs composed of children who attended the Blood Center of Cuiabá / MT. The results revealed differences in perception of the caregiver and child characterization of pain regarding type and intensity. The pain crises interfere, mainly in daily activities. The most frequently used coping strategy focused on thoughts that involve the negative aspects of the unwanted experience.
Sickle cell anemia; Pain; Caregiver; Child
