TITLE:
Malaria Characteristics in Children with Sickle Cell Disease
AUTHORS:
Indou Deme/Ly, Cheikh Binetou Fall, Awa Kane, Ibrahima Diop, Aminata Mbaye, Yaaye Joor Dieng, Denika Estelle Liapoui, Idrissa Demba Ba, Abou Ba, Aliou Thiongane, Papa Moctar Faye, Amadou Lamine Fall, Ibrahima Diagne, Ousmane Ndiaye
KEYWORDS:
Malaria, Sickle Cell Disease, Children
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.12 No.1,
February
25,
2022
ABSTRACT: Background: The relationship between sickle cell disease and malaria is the subject
of much controversy. However, there is a lack of data in our services. Our
objective was to study the epidemiological, diagnostic and evolutionary
characteristics of malaria in children with sickle cell disease followed in a
specialized setting. Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective,
descriptive, and analytical study of children with sickle cell disease (SCD)
who presented with malaria and were followed at the Ambulatory Care Unit for
Sickle Cell Children and Adolescents (USAD) at the Albert Royer National
Children’s Hospital in Dakar, from January 1st, 2017, to December 31th,
2019. We included all the followed pediatric patients, less than 16 years, with
sickle cell disease who presented at least one episode of malaria, confirmed by
a positive thick drop, during this 3 years. We did not include patients with
incomplete records or those older than 16 years. The clinical and biological
signs, the follow up was collected and analyzed with Excel package 2019. Results: Of 3773 patients followed for sickle cell disease, 21 had presented
malaria. The frequency was 0.5% or 7 cases/year. However, we exploited the data
of 14 of them. The sex ratio was 6 boys for a girl and the mean age at
admission was 7.3 years. The highest number of malaria cases was observed in
2018 and the peak frequency was observed in November with 8 cases (57.1%).
Fever was the most frequent symptom, observed in 10 patients (71.4%). All
patients were SS homozygous, with a mean baseline hemoglobin level of 7.5g/dl.
All patients had a positive thick blood smear and Plasmodium falciparum was the only species found in the blood smear, with a mean parasite density of 1693
parasites/ml of blood. All patients had anemia, with a mean hemoglobin level of
7.74 g/dl. Twelve patients (85.7%)
were hospitalized and had all received injectable artesunate followed by oral
Artemisinin Combination Therapy (ACT). Long-lasting insecticidal nets were used
in 9 patients (69.2%). The evolution was favorable in all patients, any death
was reported. NO
REPRESENTATION OF YOUR DATA IN TABLES
OR FIGURES: it was a little serial. Conclusion: The patients who
presented the association of malaria and sickle cell disease were all SS
homozygotes. However, malaria must be considered as serious in this chronic anemic setting. That’s why it is
important to improve prophylaxis.