SICKLE CELL DISEASE AND INFECTIONS IN HIGH- AND LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES
Infections, especially pneumococcal septicemia, meningitis, and Salmonella osteomyelitis, are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). SCD increased susceptibility to infection, while infection leads to SCD-specific pathophysiological changes. The risk of...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
PAGEPress Publications
2019-06-01
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| Series: | Mediterranean Journal of Hematology and Infectious Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mjhid.org/index.php/mjhid/article/view/3953 |
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| Summary: | Infections, especially pneumococcal septicemia, meningitis, and Salmonella osteomyelitis, are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). SCD increased susceptibility to infection, while infection leads to SCD-specific pathophysiological changes. The risk of infectious complications is highest in children with a palpable spleen before 6 months of age. Functional splenectomy, the results of repeated splenic infarctions, appears to be an important host-defense defect. Infection is the leading cause of death, particularly in less developed countries. Defective host-defense mechanisms enhance the risk of pneumococcal complications. Susceptibility to Salmonella infections can be explained at least in part by a similar mechanism. In high-income countries, the efficacy of the pneumococcal vaccine has been demonstrated in this disease. A decreased in infection incidence has been noted in SCD patients treated prophylactically with daily oral penicillin. Studies in low-income countries suggest the involvement of a different spectrum of etiological agents. |
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| ISSN: | 2035-3006 |