RESUMEN
Sickle cell disease is transmitted as an autosomal recessive trait. Symptoms of pallor, fever, abdominal and joint pain, and swelling of the liver, spleen, hands and feet first appear near the latter part of the first year of life. Intravascular sickling affects all organs. For clinical and therapeutic purposes, exacerbations may be classified as vasoocclusive or pain, aplastic, hemolytic or sequestration crisis. In addition to infection, complications include severe pain, cerebrovascular accidents, cholelithiasis, bone infarction, heart failure, hypotension and priapism. The most common cause of early childhood death is septicemia or meningitis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae. Complications may be reduced or prevented by early diagnosis through newborn screening, patient education, routine immunizations, administration of folic acid, pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations, penicillin prophylaxis, and early diagnosis and aggressive treatment of complications.
Asunto(s)
Anemia de Células Falciformes/complicaciones , Anemia de Células Falciformes/terapia , HumanosRESUMEN
PIP: A questionnaire was administered to 52 females with sickle disease of genotypes Hgb SS, SC, and S-thalassemia, and to 80 control subjects. They answered questions pertaining to their contraceptive habits, their reproductive habits, and their sexual activity. It was found that sexual activity differed significantly for the 2 groups: only 38% of the females in the sicle cell group reported sexual activity compared with 81% of the females in the control groups. Contraception was used less frequently by the sickle cell group (33% vs. 66%). The most commonly used method was an oral contraceptive. However, barrier methods were chosen by the cumulative majority. The 2 groups exhibited similar rates of contraception but differences in the outcome of the pregnancies--sickle cell patients experienced more miscarriages and premature births. There was a greater percentage of cesarean sections among sickle cell patients (46%) compared to 18% in the control group.^ieng
Asunto(s)
Anemia de Células Falciformes/psicología , Anticoncepción/psicología , Reproducción , Aborto Espontáneo , Adolescente , Adulto , Familia , Femenino , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Embarazo , Conducta SexualRESUMEN
Pneumococcal sepsis has contributed to increased morbidity and mortality in patients with sickle cell disease. This case highlights the urgency of early diagnosis and the necessity of aggressive intervention in the management of sickle cell patients, particularly during the years of early childhood. It cannot be overemphasized that sickle cell patients, especially those less than 5 years of age, should be monitored carefully and institution of parenteral antibiotics should be undertaken early, even in those patients that present with mild symptoms.