Sickle cell chronic pulmonary disease among Africans: the need for increased recognition and treatment

The pulmonary complications of sickle cell disease (SCD) among adults are expected to increase since more of them are expected to survive into adulthood with improved healthcare delivery systems. Such complications; especially the chronic ones; which are usually collectively referred to as SCCLD (sickle cell chronic lung disease); are often under-appreciated by healthcare providers in sub-Saharan Africa. However; results of recent work in Nigeria show that SCCLD might not be as uncommon as previously thought. It is very important to detect SCCLD at an early stage; which is usually asymptomatic; the late stages are not usually responsive to conventional treatment. In Africa; outline spirometry can be used as a screening test for asymptomatic SCCLD in the follow-up of SCD. Patients with asymptomatic SCCLD should be offered measures that can prevent further deterioration of their condition; while those with more advanced symptomatic disease are treated symptomatically

Mortality rate in Sickle Cell Disease Patients in Crisis at a Haematology Day Care Unit (HDCU) in Nigeria

The Haematology Day Care Unit (HDCU) of the University College Hospital; Ibadan; Nigeria was established in 1975 with the main goal of providing immediate and specialized care to haematological emergencies; particularly sickle cell disease (SCD) patients. Since inception; a systematic analysis of its effectiveness has not been done; hence this study. A retrospective study of all registered patients attending the Haematology Day Care Unit of the University College Hospital; Ibadan; over a one-year period was conducted and analyzed. Demographic data; diagnosis; treatment received; outcome of such treatment as well as laboratory parameters were extracted from HDCU register and the data were then analysed using descriptive statistics. A total of 890 patients were seen during the period; January and December 2001; out of which 520 were sickle cell disease patients (HbSS accounted for 508 (92.7) cases and HbSC; 40 (7.3) cases). The mean age of the SCD patients was 25.8years; the median; 23years and the mode; 18years. The mean PCV was 21.2; median; 21.0 and mode; 20. Majority (246 or 47.3) of the patients were between 20 and 30 years; the lowest frequency being in the 50years group (14 or 2.7). One patient died during the period under review (31year old female with HbSC disease); giving a mortality rate of 2 per 1000 patients

A preliminary evaluation of the cases of epstaxis in Zambia

An attempt is made to analyse the epistaxis cases with the routinely available investigations; which seem to be very much promising in arriving at a reasonable diagnosis. In this continent clinicians should also bear sickle-cell disease in mind; while treating the cases epistaxis

Factors in aetiology and clinical pattern of haematogenous osteomyelitis with special emphasis on sickle cell disease in Mulago Hospital

In this study; factors in the aetiology; clinical and radiological pattern of haematogenous osteomylitis were studied. One hundred fifty five patients participated in this study. Haematogenous osteomyelitis was found to be more common in males than females. The mean age at onset was 8.17 years. Trauma and sickle cell disease were found to be aetiological factors. Poverty; malnutrition and chronic ill health were found to be associated with increased morbidity. Sickle cell haemoglobinopathy was found in 21.1of the patients. Of these 13.5 had sickle cell trait and 8.5 had sickle cell anaemia. The majority of patients 92.2 had chronic osteomyelitis at the time of presentation. The acute phase of the disease was found to be usually missed at the time of onset of illness. No cases of sub-acute osteomyelitis. Chi square