Infection in sickle cell disease
Bacterial infections are responsible for a majority of morbidity and mortality in children with SCD. (1,2)
The following factors are thought to increase the susceptibility of affected children:
- splenic hypofunction
- defects in complement activation
- deficiencies of micronutrient
- tissue ischaemia
The common pathogens include:
- Pneumococcus
- Streptococcus pneumoniae sepsis is the commonest cause of death in children with SCD
- vaccination and prophylactic penicillin can be used for prevention (2)
- Haemophilus
- immunisation has reduced the risk of infection significantly
- Salmonella
Reference
- Rees DC, Williams TN, Gladwin MT. Sickle-cell disease Lancet. 2010 11;376(9757):2018-31
- Bain BJ, Daniel Y, Henthorn J, et al. Significant haemoglobinopathies: a guideline for screening and diagnosis: a British Society for Haematology guideline. Br J Haematol. 2023 Jun;201(6):1047-65.
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