[Fulminating pneumococcal septicemia in a 2 year old child with sickle cell anemia].
A 2-year-old boy known with homozygous sickle cell anaemia became acutely ill at home. Despite intensive care, he died a few hours later due to pneumococcal septicaemia. In young children with homozygous sickle cell anaemia, spleen function is already severely impaired in childhood due to haemolysis and frequent vaso-occlusive episodes. These children therefore have an elevated susceptibility to severe invasive infections with encapsulated bacteria. Vaccination against pneumococci at-2 years of age, re-vaccination every 3-5 years, and antibiotic prophylaxis until 5 years of age, and thereafter with possible infections, are therefore necessary.
Visser
M
M
Universitair Medisch Centrum, Wilhelmina Kinderziekenhuis, afd. Algemene Kindergeneeskunde, Postbus 85.090, 3508 AB Utrecht.
Hogeman
P H G
PH
van Vught
A J
AJ
Révész
T
T
Wolfs
T F W
TF
D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D013154:Spleen / Q000503:physiopathology; D014611:Vaccination
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines