Infection in sickle cell disease.

Our objectives were to determine aetiology and localisation of infection in sickle cell anaemia patients. The origin of fever was malaria in 47 % of cases, 50 % of bacterial infections and 3 % of viral infections. Respiratory infections were concerned in 61 % of cases, versus 24 % of osteomyelitis. Salmonella were found in 37 %, Haemophilus (16 %), Staphylococcus (14 %), Streptococcus (10 %) and Pneumococcus (9 %). We found more bacterial infection in anaemic forms (SS and SFA2) and more bacterial infection anemic forms (SC, SAFA2). In view of these findings we preconize malaria prophylaxis and vaccination against Salmonella, Haemophilus and Pneumococcus in sickle cell anemia patients.