RESUMO
In this study the demographic and clinical profile of 105 Yemeni children under 16 years old with sickle cell anemia [SCA] were studied. They were 53 males [50.4%] and 52 females [49.5%], aged between 0.5 and 15 years [mean 7.4ys]. The most serious crisis as vaso-oclusive, hemolytic, sequestration and aplastic crisis were seen in [83.8%], [52.3%], [6.6%] and [5.7%] respectively. The hand-foot syndrome was found in [21%] of all patients and in [51%] of children less than 3 years old. The most serious complication was the respiratory tract infections which was the most frequent in these patients, being encountered in [65.7%]. The rate of hospitalization was of [76%]. Our findings show that SCA has a severe clinical course in Yemenis, resembling that in black Africans and in black Americans