Sagir G. Ahmed
Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital,
PMB 3452, Kano, Kano State
Nigeria
Research Article
Seasonal Variations in Frequencies of Acute Vaso-Occlusive Morbidities among Sickle Cell Anaemia Patients in Northern Nigeria
Author(s): Sagir G. Ahmed, Modu B Kagu, Usman A. Abjah and Audu A. Bukar
Sagir G. Ahmed, Modu B Kagu, Usman A. Abjah and Audu A. Bukar
Background: Nigeria is the most populous black nation with the heaviest burden of Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA). The climate in the north is characterized by a short rainy season and a long dry season that can be subdivided into a cold and dusty harmattan season and a hot non-harmattan dry season. We studied the impact of seasonal variations of climatic factors on the frequencies of acute vaso-occlusive morbidities, including VasoOcclusive Crisis (VOC), Acute Chest Syndrome (ACS), priapism and stroke among patients with SCA in northern Nigeria.
Methods: This is a six-year prospective study conducted from 2005 to 2010 in university teaching hospitals of Maiduguri and Kano cities of northern Nigeria. Consecutive patients with SCA who presented with VOC, ACS, priapism and stroke were diagnosed, recruited and enumerated. The monthly and seasonal fre.. View More»
DOI:
10.4172/2155-9864.1000120