Spectrum of infections in children with beta-thalassemia

Abstract

At present, as an effect of hyper transfusion regimen, fewer thalassemia patients undergo splenectomy. However, when transfusional need rises, splenic enlargement or hypersplenism occurs, splenectomy is indicated. In splenectomised patients antibody production in response to new antigens is impaired. Phagocytosis, chemotaxis is also impaired. For all these reasons, splenectomised patients are at increased risk of sepsis from any pathogen. However, encapsulated pathogens like Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza type B, Neisseria meningitidis, E.coli are the most common. Risk of infection is very high if the patient is below the age of 5 years. Splenectomised patients must receive routine vaccinations, including both live attenuated and killed vaccination. The thalassemic child fulfilling the inclusion criteria was enrolled in the study after taking informed consent from the caretaker. Total of 85 patients below 12 years of age were studied which included patients who were receiving blood transfusion regularly in our hospital and also patients referred from other centers were included in the study. In our study, one patient is positive for HIV and HbsAg [1.17%], two are positive for HCV [2.35%] and 2 patients were diagnosed to have possibly transfusion transmitted Malaria [2.35%].