Glycosylated hemoglobin level in Saudi children with sickle cell anaemia

To evaluate the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase [G6PD] status in ameliorating the disease in sickle cell paediatric patient. Design: Prospective study of patient with sickle cell anaemia with and without G6PD deficiency. Setting: Paediatric Department, Qatif Central Hospital, Saudi Arabia. Sickle cell paediatric patient. The mean HbA[1]C in patient with SS disease was 6.5 +/- 0.9%, while that in normal paediatric patient was 6.3 +/- 1.5% [P value > 0.6]. On the other hand the HbA[1]C in patient with SS disease and G6PD deficiency was 6.9 +/- 1.08% which is statistically different from patient with SS disease and normal G6PD status [5.6 +/- 1.08%] [P value < 0.04]. G6PD deficiency may be beneficial in reducing the haemolytic crises in Saudi paediatric SS patient

Pattern of admissions of children with sickle cell disease in Qateef central hospital, Saudi Arabia

Sickle Cell Disease [SCD] in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia is thought to be a benign form of disease. This is not true for all patients and it contradicts our clinical observation. Therefore, we conducted this study to look at the patterns of different presentations of SCD patients who required admission to Qateef Central Hospital [QCH]. The study was conducted prospectively between March 1990 and July 1991. All SCD patients less than 13 years were included. The total number of patients admitted to the paediatric medical ward during the study period was 2886, out of which 561 were SCD patients [19.4%]. Out of these, painful crises were responsible for 298 admissions [53%], anaemic episodes for 204 admissions [36.4%], infection for 83 admissions [15%], acute chest syndrome for 28 admissions [5%] and others for 20 admissions [3.6%]. The SCD patients form a large proportion of paediatric admissions. They present with various complications of the disease

Acute phase reactants and hematological alterations in children with sickle cell disease

A prospective study was conducted on a hundred and thirty two paediatric patients with sickle cell disease who were admitted to Qateef Central Hospital between January 1st 1992 through December 31st 1992. Twenty eight patients had documented bacterial infection [Group A], and out of these, 11 had osteomyelitis, 9 had chest infection, 1 had urinary tract infection, 1 had salmonella septicaemia and 6 had acute follicular tonsillitis. One hundred and four patients [Group B] had painful vaso-oclusive crisis. In group A, the mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 50mm/h, while it was 29mm/h in Group B, [P<0.01]. The means of absolute band cell count of both groups were 1300/ul and 480/ul respectively [P <0.01]. The C-reactive protein was significantly positive in 12 patients in Group A [42%], while it was positive in only 9 patients [8.6%] in Group B [P<0.01]. The mean age group A was 6.4 year, while it was 8 years in Group B [P <0.001]. There was no significant difference between both groups in their mean admission temperature, total leukocyte count and absolute neutrophil count

Necrotizing enterocolitis in Qatif

All the cases of proven necrotizing enterocolitis, diagnosed in the neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Qatif Central Hospital over 3 years period [from Sept. 1988 through Oct. 1991] were registered and reviewed. There were twenty cases diagnosed to have N.E.C. During the same period, a total of 1154 neonates were admitted to the unit making an incidence of 1.73 percent. The mean gestational age was 33.5 weeks with a range of 24-40 weeks. The average age at diagnosis was 8.8 days. The most predisposing factors were sepsis in 17 patients [85 percent], prematurity in 14 patients [70 percent], and umbilical line insertion in 10 patients [50 percent]. Four patients required surgical intervention because of perforation [20 percent]. Six patients died making a mortality rate of 30 percent

Incidence of foreign body aspiration in children at Qatif central hospital

A retrospective study was conducted over a period of three years starting January 1988 through December 1990. The total number of pediatric patients admitted to pediatric Medical Ward was 9057, out of which 15 patients were diagnosed to have foreign body aspiration, making an incidence of 1.6/1000 admission. There were 9 males and 6 females with a ratio of 1.5:1 The age group ranged between 6 months to 8 years. 5 patients were less than a year old [33 percent], while 6 patients [40 percent] were between, 2-3 years old. The commonest symptoms these patients had were, cough in 14 patients [93 percent], difficulty in breathing in 11 patients [73 percent], decreased air entry in 9 patients [64 percent], wheezing in 8 patients [57 percent], and fever in 3 patients [21 percent]. The foreign bodies were found in the right bronchus in 10 patients [66 percent], in the left bronchus in 4 patients [26 percent] and in the trachea in one patient [6 percent]. One patient died, making a case fatality rate of 6.6 percent

Incidence of major infection in sickle cell pediatric patients at Qatif Central Hospital

During the two-year period, 20 Jumada I 1408 [January 9, 1989] to 20 Jumada I 1410 [December 18, 1989], a total of 450 pediatric patients with sickle-cell anemia were admitted to the pediatric ward of Qatif Central Hospital. Thirty-nine patients had a major infection [septicemia, meningitis, or osteomyelitis], with an incidence of 8.6%. During the same period, 3700 non-sickle pediatric patients were admitted and 38 of them had a major infection, with an incidence of 1% [P < 0.001]. Three patients died in the sickle cell group, for a case fatality rate of 7.6%, while only one patient in the control group died, for a case fatality rate of 2.6% [P < 0.002]. Salmonella species were responsible for 12 cases of septicemia and three episodes of osteomyelitis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae was the source in eight cases of septicemia and one case of meningitis in sicklers. Meningitis was caused by different organisms, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Salmonella, and Meningococcus. Antibiotics that cover both Salmonella and Streptococcus pneumoniae must be considered in all children with sickle cell anemia who have a febrile illness