DOI: 10.36347/sasjm.2024.v10i04.006

Pages: 242-245

Sickle cell disease still constitutes a worrying public health problem today. In its major form, it remains a significant cause of infant mortality in our countries. Objective: To study the epidemiological aspects of sickle cell disease in the pediatric department of Sikasso hospital. Methodology: This is a prospective cross-sectional study running from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017, a period of one year, meeting the inclusion criteria. Results: During the study period, 4800 patients were consulted in the department including 72 cases of sickle cell anemia, i.e. a prevalence of 1.5%. The average age was 29.5 months. Children under 5 years old were the most represented with 55.5% of cases. The male sex was more common with a sex ratio of 1.4. Depending on the father's Hb type, the AS form represented 87% of cases. In 14 cases, or 70%, the mothers of our patients carried the sickle cell AS trait. Patients were known to have sickle cell disease before the age of 5 in 55.5% of cases. The SS form was the most represented with 57% of cases. The circumstances of discovery were dominated by abdominal pain and osteoarticular pain with 41.7% and 27.8% respectively. Pallor and jaundice were the most common signs on admission with 37.5% and 17.5% of cases respectively. Complications were dominated by CVO and infection with respectively 56.2% and 25%. Conclusion: Difficulties remain in management, linked on the one hand to the unfavorable socio-economic conditions of our populations and on the other hand to the unavailability of certain key tests such as hemoglobin electrophoresis and reticulocyte levels at Sikasso hospital.