Systemic Salmonella infections in sickle cell anaemia

Salmonella infections remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with sickle cell disease. In Jamaica, 16 episodes of systemic Salmonella infection were recognized in 308 children with sickle cell disease followed prospectively in a cohort study from birth. There were eight cases with osteomyelitis, seven with septicaemia, and one with meningitis. Salmonella dactylitis was the commonest presentation of osteomyelitis in the young child. Comparison of clinical features between children with Salmonella dactylitis and dactylitis owing to avascular bone necrosis showed that children with osteomyelitis had significantly higher fever, prolonged history and fluctuant swellings. Fever above 38.5 degrees C occurred in four of five children with Salmonella dactylitis, but in only one of 59 with uncomplicated dactylitis (P = 0.01). Chloramphenicol and co-trimoxazole were both effective for systemic infection, and ampicillin alone was inadequate. Three deaths occurred, two from septicaemia and one from meningitis.