Sickle cell anaemia in Saudi-Arabian children

Forty-one Saudi Arabian children aged between six months and 13 years had a total of 68 admissions for complications of sickle cell anaemia during 1992. Review of their in-patient records and the relevant out-patient notes revealed a change in the clinical profile as compared to previous years. Hand-foot syndrome is virtually non-existent and vaso occlusive crisis remains the commonest cause of admission. Introduction of pneumococcal vaccine and prophylactic oral penicillin has had no effect on the frequency of admissions and the admission rate per patient year. We have not seen any septicaemia/meningitis due to pneumococci. No death occurred during 1992.