Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026
05:35
A Point-of-Care Method with Integrated Decision Support Tool to Estimate Anemia at Population Level
Published on: January 19, 2024
Sickle cell anemia from central India: a retrospective analysis
Dipty Jain1, Khushnooma Italia, Vijaya Sarathi
1Department of Pediatrics, Government Medical College, Nagpur, India. dipty47@rediffmail.com
Indian Pediatrics
|June 26, 2012
Summary
Sickle cell anemia in Indian children often presents severely, contrary to common belief. This study highlights significant healthcare needs, including frequent hospitalizations and transfusions, for these patients.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Pediatric Medicine
- Genetics
Background:
- Sickle cell anemia (SCA) in India is often perceived as having a mild clinical course.
- Limited data exists on the severity of SCA in central Indian pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To retrospectively investigate the clinical presentation and healthcare utilization of children with SCA in central India.
- To identify the proportion of pediatric SCA patients experiencing severe disease and requiring specific therapies.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 316 children diagnosed with SCA.
- Longitudinal follow-up over a mean period of 5.8 years.
- Data collection on blood transfusions, vaso-occlusive crises, hospitalizations, and treatment eligibility.
Main Results:
- A significant proportion (30%) of children presented with severe sickle cell anemia.
- High rates of medical intervention were observed: 55.4 blood transfusions and 43.3 hospitalizations for vaso-occlusive crises per 100 person-years.
- 74 patients met criteria for hydroxyurea therapy, indicating substantial disease burden.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric sickle cell anemia in central India frequently manifests with severe clinical symptoms.
- These findings underscore the need for regular medical monitoring and intervention for affected children in this region.
