Abstract:

Background: Worldwide, Sickle Cell disease (SCD) remains among the serious, multisystemic genetic disorders affecting millions of children. The chronicity of the disease contributes significantly to high complications which bring about the integrated approach of these complications so as to reduce children morbidities and mortalities and to improve quality of life.

Objective: This study attachment is designed to build a strong understanding in approach of children admitted with sickle cell disease presenting at Bugando medical centre Mwanza for routine care.

Methodology: This will be a hospital based attachment, which will include children aged 5 months – 12 years with SCD. Children will be assessed within the ward with me and presented to the ward doctor for more learning. And management will be done by the attending doctor after discussion. The child will be followed up until discharge.

Conclusion: In our setting the comprehensive management of sickle cell disease is adequate but there high rate of infection among children with sickle cell disease admitted in our setting. Teh most common complication of sickle cell disease in our setting are pain crisis, acute chest syndrome, infections like malaria, septicemia, pneumonia and urinary tract infection, also other complication is splenic sequestration. Early treatment with Hydroxyurea or blood transfusion help preserve function and hence less infections.