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Pediatric patients with sickle cell anemia have a higher susceptibility to becoming infected with which organism?
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Pediatric patients with sickle cell anemia have a higher susceptibility to becoming infected with which organism?
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February 10, 2020 at 4:12 pm
C) Haemophilus influenza
Sickle cell patients have functional asplenia, which puts then at greater risk of becoming infected with encapsulated organisms such as pneumococcus and Haemophilus influenzae. 31% of infants had functional asplenia by 8-13 months of age, and 94% by age 5 years (60 months). Immunizations and prophylactic penicillin (given to a minimum of age 5 years) help reduce this risk. Sickle cell anemia patients are also at increased risk of Salmonella invasive infections.
Although once infected with influenza, patients with chronic diseases such as sickle cell anemia may be at higher risk of complications, they do not have a higher susceptibility to becoming infected in the first place. The risk of bacteremia is high enough that any patient with sickle cell anemia and fever > 38.5 C should have blood cultures drawn and receive empiric antibiotics, and, in some cases, be admitted as an inpatient, even if they have an alternative viral source such as a positive influenza test