Acute Complications of Sickle Cell Disease in Children Under 5 Years at a Level II Hospital

Abstract

The aim of this study was to characterize the acute complications that required hospitalization in children under 5 years with Sickle Cell Disease. The population included 70 patients, 64% of African ascendency and 95.7% homozygotic for the HbS. We analyzed data from 337 hospitalizations. The first hospitalization occurred before 12 months in 38.6% and the average hospital admission per child was 3.92. The mean duration per hospitalization was 5.36 days. The most common diagnosis was vaso-occlusive crisis (36.8%) followed by fever, upper airway infections, bacterial pneumonia and splenic sequestration. Hemoglobin values at admission were between 6 and 7 g/dL in 22.3%, with 44.2% requiring at least 1 blood transfusion. There are several acute complications of SCD, being vaso-occlusive crisis the most common. Splenic sequestration generally occurs during the first 2 years and is associated with the need of transfusion. They represent a significant burden, with each child spending approximately 3 weeks hospitalized.

Identification of Novel Hb Guiyang [HBA2: c.151C > A α2 50 (CE8) His- Asn] and Phenotype- Genotype Correlation of Abnormal Hemoglobins in Guizhou, Southwest China

“…Although most abnormal hemoglobins have limited clinical significance, a small number of homozygotes or if combined with thalassemia will present with significant anemia, such as Hb S/S and Hb E/β 0 . 6 , 7 …”

“…Although most abnormal hemoglobins have limited clinical significance, a small number of homozygotes or if combined with thalassemia will present with significant anemia, such as Hb S/S and Hb E/β 0 . 6,7 The study of hemoglobinopathy in China was initiated in the 1960s, and in the 1980s, Chinese scientists conducted a general survey of hemoglobinopathy in nearly one million people covering 28 provinces nationwide. That survey showed that the average carrier rate of abnormal hemoglobin in Chinese population was 0.33%, and the distribution showed a significant difference between the south (0.37%) and the north (0.29%).…”