title: Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a Ghanaian child.
abstract: We report a case of a previously well nine-month-old infant who presented with prolonged fever, hepatosplenomegaly and pancytopenia. A diagnosis of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) was made during the course of hospital admission. There was good initial response to dexamethasone but the patient died less than two months after diagnosis. This is the first report of HLH from Ghana. The disease has a significant mortality rate if untreated and a high index of suspicion is required in all severely ill children.
authors: University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana. csegbefia@gmail.com
authors: C I
authors: CI
authors: Segbefia
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Osei-Wusu
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Obeng
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Dei-Adomakoh
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D005869:Ghana; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D051359:Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012008:Recurrence; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone
keywords: Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis; children; dexamethasone; hyperinflammation; pancytopenia
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