CLINICAL ANALYSIS OF MORTALITY IN HOSPITALIZED ZAMBIAN CHILDREN WITH SICKLE-CELL-ANEMIA

The hospital records of 62 Zambian children with sickle cell anaemia ( SCA) who died during a 3 year period (January 1987 to December 1989) a t the Paediatric Wing of the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zam bia, were reviewed retrospectively. The SCA patients accounted for 2.9 2 percent of the total admissions and the average case fatality was 6. 61 percent of the total SCA admissions, The case fatality rate has red uced considerably as compared to the one observed in 1970 in Zambia, a lthough the major causes of death remain the same, The maximum mortali ty was noted in the age group of one to five years (54.84%). The commo n causes of death were infections (29.54%), vasoocclusive crises (22.7 2%) and splenic sequestration crises (20.45%), The problems of sub-Sah aran Africa, like malaria,malnutrition and now the HIV infection also add to the mortality (15.90%).