Abstract:

Background Information: Sickle cell disease affects millions of people throughout the world, and it is found to be the most blood disorder among families whose ancestors came from sub-Saharan Africa, South America, Cuba, Central America, Saudi Arabia, India and the Mediterranean regions.

Methods: The research was hospital based analytical retrospective cross-sectional study that was conducted at Bugando medical centre located in Nyamagana district, the population of interest were 178 patients file admitted between Septembers to December 2019 with sickle cell disease. Data were collected direct from the patient files medical records department and data entry and analysis were done with the assistance of computer program, SPSS (statistical package for social science) to generate p-value and chi square.

Results: A total of 178 sickle cell disease patients were enrolled files were the study of these 51.1% (91) were females and the mean age of participants was 4 [1-10] years. The common signs and symptoms were vaso-occlusive pain crisis 83.2 (148) followed by fever 80.3% (143) and cough 24.7% (44). The leading diagnosis was vaso-occlusive pain crisis 83.2% (148) followed by Bacteremia 36.5% (65), malaria 34.8% (62) and acute chest syndrome 34.3% (61). The predictors of recurrent admissions were male gender (OR 3.28: 95% CI, 1.13-9.58: p=0.029), malaria (OR 4.65: 95% CI, 1.57-13.76: p=0.006) and hemiplegia (OR 3.88: 95% CI, 1.05-14.4: p=0.043)

Conclusion and recommendation: The major of admissions among children with sickle cell disease were as Vasoocclusive crisis and fever. Male gender, malaria and hemiplegia were associated with recurrent admissions in this study. We recommend emphasis on prevention and early screening modifiable risk factors like malaria for better life of children with sickle cell disease.