Abstract

Acute chest syndrome is known to be leading cause of death among patients with sickle cell disease. This study was conducted to   identify   acute chest syndrome (ACS) in paediatric patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) in the university of Maiduguri teaching hospital (UMTH), Northeastern Eastern, Nigeria. A retrospective  study  of  eighty   children comprising of boys and girls aged 2 to 12 years with presenting symptoms and physical signs suggestive ACS, admitted to the paediatric ward over a period of 3 years. The   frequency of occurrence of ACS  between the males and females in the different age groups were analyzed. Clinical, laboratory, and radiological features of this syndrome were equally evaluated and analyzed. Oxygen therapy, antibiotics, analgesiaboth simple paracetamol and narcotics, blood transfusion and mechanical ventilation were used as required. The study consisted of 52(65%) males and 28(35%) females, with male: female ratio of 1.8:1. The age ranged from 2 to 12years. Our  results  revealed  that  the  frequency  of  ACS  episodes  are  age dependent. Overall the symptoms were more prevalent in the younger children than the older ones. Fever and cough seemed more pronounced in the ages 2-8, whereas chest pain, productive cough and shortness of breath were more prevalent amongst the 10-12 years category. Though, the frequency of these symptoms and signs differ in the age groups, their presence as symptoms and signs of ACS were all significant (p <0.01).  This study demonstrates the importance of acute chest syndrome as a cause of morbidity and mortality in children with sickle cell disease in our environment.  The results serves as a baseline for an elaborate study of the syndrome in our environment.

Key words: Acute chest syndrome, Paediatric sickle cell patients, Northeastern Nigeria.