Socio-demographic and clinical profile of osteoarticular complications of sickle cell disease in children in two hospitals in Yaoundé (Cameroon)

Abstract

Background: Sickle cell disease, the most common genetic disorder in Cameroon, causes chronic osteoarticular complications, the incidence of which in children is unknown. The aim of our study was to describe osteoarticular complications in children with sickle cell disease.

Materials and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving prospective and retrospective data collection among children with sickle cell disease under the age of 15 over a five-year period in two university hospitals in the city of Yaoundé. The data collected were presented as mean ± standard deviation, frequencies and percentages.

Results: Among the 342 children with sickle cell disease seen during this period, there were 51 cases of osteoarticular involvement, representing an incidence of 14.9%. The mean age was 8.7± 4.2 years, with children over 5 years of age being the most affected, and a predominance of males. About prophylaxis, 21.6% were on hydroxyurea and 29.4% were vaccinated against salmonella. The two main symptoms were osteoarticular pain (92.2%) and fever (58.8%). Osteoarticular complications included osteomyelitis (22 cases; 43.3%), osteoarthritis (19 cases; 37.3%), aseptic osteonecrosis (7 cases; 13.7%) and septic arthritis (3 cases; 5.9%). The main organisms isolated from osteoarticular infections were Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella and Staphylococcus.

Conclusion: Osteoarticular complications were common in children with sickle cell disease, particularly osteoarticular infections, with a predilection for 8-year-olds and males.