title: Bacterial meningitis and septicemia in sickle cell disease.
abstract: A total of 422 patients with sickle cell disorders have been observed for 3,442 patient years. During this period, 53 episodes of septicemia or meningitis occurred, indicating a risk of 12.5% from these infections for each individual. If only patients with SS hemoglobinopathy (sickle cell anemia) (323 patients) are considered, the risk was 15.2%. The case fatality ratios for sepsis and meningitis were 35% and 10%, respectively. Disease due to Streptococcus pneumoniae occurred, almost exclusively, among children with SS hemoglobinopathy who were less than 5 years of age. After the first decade, illnesses among patients with all types of sickle cell disorders were frequently associated with an identifiable source of infection, a chronic course, and frequent involvement of Gram-negative organisms.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D002140:California; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000150:complications; D008586:Meningitis, Pneumococcal / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality