Management of vaso-occlusive sickle cell crisis by medical practitioners in Lome (Togo)

An adequate treatment of pain crises enhances the welfare of patients with sickle cell disease. This work attempted to analyse treatment habits of Lom e's medical staff in sickle pain. Practitioners of 55 sanitary training (15 publics and 40 privates) were surveyed. Physicians, internists, pediatrici ans, medical auxiliaries and nurses, answered the question of knowing their treatment habits in sickle cell crises of limbs. Among the 202 practitione rs who answered the question, were 76 physicians (35 from the private secto r), 58 houses physicians, 33 medical auxiliaries, and 35 nurses. Although t heir use is contested now, vasodilators and pentoxyfilline are widely presc ribed (58,2 % of practitionners). Only 31,2 % of practitioners are aware of treatment with adequate hydratation. As in many African countries, the pre scription of morphinic drugs is restricted. In Togo, as generaly in Africa, the treatment of sickle cell pain crises is inadequate, contrary to the de velopped countries where the use of morphinic medicines is justified by the research of a maximum confort.