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Head circumference of children with sickle cell disease in Lagos, Nigeria
Idowu Odunayo Senbanjo1, Kazeem Adeola Oshikoya2, Mohammed Salisu2
1Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Lagos State University College of Medicine, PMB 21266, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
Insights
Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) show normal head circumference (HC) compared to healthy peers. Malnutrition significantly impacts HC in SCD children aged 11-15 years, indicating tailored monitoring is crucial.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Genetics
- Public Health
Background:
- Growth retardation and under-nutrition are prevalent in children with sickle cell disease (SCD).
- Assessing head circumference (HC) is vital for monitoring child development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the head circumference (HC) of children with SCD to non-SCD children.
- To determine the impact of malnutrition on the HC of children with SCD.
Main Methods:
- A prospective case-control study involved 118 children with SCD and 118 controls matched for age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Standard techniques were used to measure weight, height, and HC.
- The study was conducted at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in mean HC was observed between children with SCD and non-SCD children across all ages.
- The prevalence of stunting was higher in SCD children aged 11-15 years compared to controls.
- SCD children with stunting in the 11-15 age group had significantly lower HC than non-stunted SCD children.
Conclusions:
- Head circumference charts for the general population are applicable for monitoring children with SCD.
- Malnutrition has a notable effect on the head circumference of children with SCD, particularly in the 11-15 age group.
Introduction:
Growth retardation and under-nutrition are common in children with sickle cell disease (SCD). The aim of this study was to compare the head circumference (HC) of SCD children and non-SCD children and to determine the effect of malnutrition on head circumference of children with SCD.
Methods:
This was a prospective case-control study conducted at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria, involving SCD children (subject, n = 118) and non-SCD children (control, n = 118) matched for age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Weight, height and HC were measured using standard techniques.
Results:
The mean ages of children with and without SCD were 7.46 ± 3.69 years and 7.01 ± 3.58 years, respectively. The HC increased significantly with age in both males and females (r = 0.75, p = < 0.001; r = 0.70, p < 0.001 respectively). There was no significant difference in HC between males and females (p > 0.05). At all ages, the mean head circumference of SCD children was not significantly (p > 0.05) different from non-SCD children. The In the age group 11-15 years, the prevalence of stunting was significantly higher among SCD children than non-SCD children. The mean HC of SCD children with stunting was significantly lower than those not stunted (51.7 vs. 53.5; P= 0.006) in age group 11.15 years.
Conclusion:
The head circumference of children with SCD is not significantly different from that of non-SCD children. Therefore, the HC chart for the general population is also applicable for monitoring head growth in children with SCD. The effect of malnutrition on head circumference of SCD children is most marked in age group 11-15 years.
