BackgroundSickle cell anaemia is the most common genetic disorder worldwide as well as in Nigeria. Delay in the diagnosis of the condition constitutes an important cause of concern for caretakers of affected children.ObjectiveTo determine the age at diagnosis in a population of children with sickle cell anaemia in Lagos, Nigeria.MethodologyThe study was conducted between October and December 2009 at the sickle cell clinic of the Department of Paediatrics of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos in South west Nigeria. By convenience sampling, a total of 192 children with sickle cell anaemia aged six months to 15 years were interviewed with the aid of a structured questionnaire.ResultsOverall, the mean age at confirmation of haemoglobin genotype was 27.33 months (± 26. 36 months). The mean age at diagnosis was significantly lower among males than females (25.59 ± 27.74 Vs. 29.14 ± 24.85, p = 0.04). A quarter of the children were diagnosed before infancy and three-quarters before three years of age. Upper social stratum and small family size were significantly associated with earlier diagnosis of sickle cell anaemia.ConclusionToo few subjects are diagnosed in infancy. Routine screening should ideally be done at birth and neonatal period or at the latest, between six and nine months.

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Children with sickle cell anemia are vulnerable to growth deficits; thus, it would be thought that obesity would be rare among them. The objective of the study is to examine the prevalence of obesity in a sickle cell anemia population in Lagos. A random sample of children with sickle cell anemia aged 2-15 years was interviewed and anthropometric measurements including weight and height were taken. Their body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Participants were classified as obese or not obese by their BMI or weight-for-height-for-age using World Health Organization standard definitions. The overall prevalence of obesity was 2.5% and 3.8% among hemoglobin genotype SS subjects and hemoglobin genotype AA controls, respectively. The age-specific prevalence for obesity was highest among the adolescent age category in hemoglobin genotype AA controls and the childhood age category in subjects with sickle cell anemia. All the obese subjects with sickle cell anemia were from upper socioeconomic strata, while two and one of the three subjects with hemoglobin genotype AA were from upper and middle socioeconomic strata, respectively. Obesity does exist among children with sickle cell anemia in Lagos, Nigeria. Public health programs aimed at prevention and control of obesity must include children with sickle cell anemia.

Background. Iron status in patients with sickle cell anaemia is a matter of continuing investigation. Objective. This paper aims to determine the serum iron status of under-five, sickle cell anaemia patients. Methods. The study spanned from December 2009 to February 2010 at the Consultant Outpatient Clinics involving 97 HbSS subjects and 97 age- and sex-matched HbAA controls. Biochemical iron status was assayed in subjects and controls. Results. Age range of the children was seven months to five years, with a mean of 30.6 (±15.97) months. Irrespective of gender, mean serum iron values were higher in HbAA controls than their HbSS counterparts but the observed difference was not significant (P = 0.299 and 0.111, resp.). The mean total iron binding capacity values of males and females were also not significantly different for sickle cell anaemia subjects and controls (P > 0.05). Males and females with HbAA had significantly lower serum ferritin when compared with their HbSS counterparts. Irrespective of gender, mean transferrin saturation was lower in HbSS subjects but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusion. Children with sickle cell anaemia have higher serum ferritin than controls, implying relatively higher iron content in the reticuloendothelial cells.

Prevenar 13 provided protective immunity in all vaccinated children but those under 2 years of age who had non-protective levels pre-vaccination benefited the most.