Acute abdominal pain in sickle cell disease

ABSTRACT

A prospective study of paediatric patients with sickle cell disease [SCD] admitted to Qateef Central Hospital [QCH] because of abdominal pain was carried out between July 1990 and October 1992. Out of 59 admissions, 53 had acute abdominal painful crises [APC] and 6 patients had acute surgical abdomen [ASA]. History of abdominal pain was found in 66% of APC. Vomiting was found in 66.7% of ASA and 26% of APC. Diffuse abdominal pain was found in all ASA and 11.3% of APC. Rigidity, involuntary guarding and decreased bowel sounds were found in 66.7% of ASA and 9.4% of APC. Rebound tenderness and increased bowel sounds were found only in ASA [33.4%]. Accompanying painful bone crises was found in 56.6% of APC and in 33.3% of ASA. Past history of abdominal pain, diffuse abdominal pain and accompanying painful bone crises were features of APC. On the other hand, signs of peritoneal irritation were features of ASA