title: Age at diagnosis of sickle cell disease in a developing country.
abstract: In order to determine the age at diagnosis of sickle cell disease and some of the factors that influence the same at the University College Hospital Ibadan, a retrospective study of children with sickle cell disease who attended the children's outpatient department of the hospital between June 2000 and June 2009 was conducted by reviewing their case notes. A total of 457 children were studied (Male: Female ratio 1.1:1). Haemoglobin phenotype was SS in 421 children (92.1%) and SC in 36 children (7.9 %). Median age at diagnosis was 2.0 years (2.5 months - 14.0 years). Age at diagnosis was lower in children with Hb SS than HbSC (p = 0.01), in children from higher socioeconomic classes (p = 0.003) and in children with a history of dactylitis (N = 354, p = 0.000). Late diagnosis of haemogobinopathies in Ibadan calls for institution of neonatal screening to improve chances of survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. biosbrown@yahoo.com
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Akinkunmi
authors.forename: O J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Fatunde
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins