Sunil Kumar Agarwalla1, Ali Nasreen2
BACKGROUND Although Sickle Cell Disease ( children are highly susceptible to infections . T here is a dreadful lack of data related to the
burden and spectrum of infections in Odisha, especially southern Odisha which is the belt for SCD. This study aimed to
determine the burden and spectrum of infection among SCD children hospitali s ed in a P a ediatric Department of MKCG Medical
College and Hospital
MATERIALS AND METHODS The prospective hospital based study was conducted from 2015 2016 in the Department of P a ediatrics MKCG Medical College
and Hospital. We enrolled all known SCD children aged 14 years or less, hospitali s ed with evidence of infection.
RESULTS The incidence of infection was high among 6 10 years of children. There was a male predominance with male:female ratio 3:2.
High incidence of infection was found in homozygous HbS mutant ( Maximum infections were observed in low SES. Most
common infection in children with SCD was found to be malaria ( The incidence of infection was found to be high in
unimmuni s ed children as compared to partially and routinely immunis ed children and a less incidence of infection was detected
among children who were routinely immuni s ed along with special category vaccines. 62.5% children with pneumonia did not
develop any complications but 25% developed empyema thoracis and 12.5% developed pneumothorax. Blood culture was
positive in 75% of the cases , o ut of which pneumococci was isolated in 50% and i nfluenza in 25% of the children. The incidence
of mortality was 10% and found high among the age groups 0 5 years. The mortality due to malaria was 8% followed by
pneumonia 4% and meningitis 2%. However with early diagnosis and proper management 90% of children got cured of
infection.
CONCLUSION Male children, homozygous SCD in age group of 6 10 years and belonging to low SES contribute maximum number of infections
in SCD. Contrary to previous beliefs that heterozygotes in SCD resist infections like malaria, m alaria seems to be the common
infection in children with SCD , w hich is also the leading cause of death followed by pneumonia.
