A structured questionnaire was used to obtain information on the sociodemographic characteristics of the child with sickle cell disease such as the age, sex, and the social class. Other data included frequency of hospitalization, blood transfusion, and significant pain episodes within the last 1 year. For the purpose of this study, a significant pain episode (or vaso-occlusive crisis) was defined as an acute painful event requiring treatment at a health care facility or at home with either (1) parenteral or an equianalgesic dose of oral narcotics or (2) parenteral or an equianalgesic dose of oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.1,2