title: Acute complications of sickle cell disease in children.
abstract: Sickle cell disease is a recessively inherited condition in which synthesis of haemoglobin is abnormal. The disease, which occurs mainly in people of African, African-Caribbean, Indian, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern descent, is characterised by chronic anaemia, susceptibility to infection, bouts of severe pain and organ dysfunction. While the life expectancy for patients has improved, from a median survival age of 14 years in the 1970s among those homozygous for the sickle haemoglobin gene to survival into the mid-40s, childhood remains a period of peak mortality and morbidity. Here, we discuss the acute complications of sickle cell disease in children, concentrating on the management of the acutely unwell child.
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000700:Analgesics; D000741:Anemia, Aplastic / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000818:Animals; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D000986:Antisickling Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006918:Hydroxyurea / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007223:Infant; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011317:Priapism / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000986:Antisickling Agents; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D009020:Morphine; D006918:Hydroxyurea