Sickle cell disease in childhood in Madina

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a common disease in Saudi Arabia, with a high prevalence in the Eastern and Southern regions. This study repo rts on 53 cases of SCD encountered in the Madina area. Patients and Methods: In a retrospective study of 6000 pediatric patients, 53 children (0.88%) with sickle cell disease were admitted in the Maternity and Children's Hospital at Madina, between November 1990 and October 1991. Of these, 39 patients (73.58%) were Saudis and 14 (26.41%) were non-Saudis . Results: Thirty-six patients were homozygous SS and 17 were sickle thalasse mic. The main causes of admission were vaso-occlusive crisis (77.35%). infe ction (67.92%), acute chest syndrome (22.64%), anemia (12.6%). and cerebrov ascular accident (9.43%). The lowest and highest age groups recorded in thi s study were six months and 12 years, respectively. About 70% of the patien ts are still being followed up, and none of the patients has died. Conclusion:. This disease is one of the major causes of morbidity in this r egion of Saudi Arabia. Measures required include neonatal screening program s for the early detection of the disease, as well as research into new drug s to counter the disease.