When to seek urgent help

MUIY is not for emergencies. Get urgent medical help — your treatment centre or local emergency number — for any of these: new chest tightness, breathlessness, a racing or irregular heartbeat, or swollen ankles (possible heart strain); a high fever, especially if you’ve had your spleen removed; severe abdominal pain; or signs of a serious transfusion reaction.

If you’re on deferiprone and develop a fever, sore throat or mouth ulcers, get an urgent white-cell count the same day. When in doubt, it’s always okay to call your treatment centre — they would far rather hear from you early.