Sickle cell anemia is the world's most common monogenic disease, with a steady rise in the number of cases also in Switzerland. It presents as regenerative anemia and recurrent vaso-occlusive episodes, which can impact all organs. Acute and chronic complications increase morbidity and mortality, significantly reducing life expectancy compared to the general population. Optimal and multidisciplinary management of acute events is essential to improve patients' quality of life and overall prognosis. Vaso-occlusive crises and acute chest syndrome are the two most frequent acute complications. Their treatment, described here, is threefold: analgesia, treatment of causative factors and prevention of further complications.