Author(s)

Djike Puepi Fokam Yolande^1,2*, Kukwah Anthony Tufong^2,3, Tagakou Mboula Jules^2,4, Andang Paul Mayah⁵, Eposse Ekoube Charlotte^6,7, Diomede Noukeu Njinkui⁸, Dominique Enyama⁸, Helene Kamo Selangai⁹, Verla Vincent Siysi^1,2

¹Department of Internal Medicine and Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
²Buea Regional Hospital, Buea, South West, Cameroon.
³Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
⁴Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda, Bamenda, Cameroon.
⁵Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
⁶Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
⁷Treatment Centre of Sickle cell Disease, Laquintinie Hospital, Douala, Cameroon.
⁸Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon.
⁹Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical sciences, University of Ngaoundere, Ngaoundere, Cameroon.

Introduction: Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is the most prevalent genetic disease in the world predominantly in the African population with Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA) being its dominant form. One of the most frequent complications of SCD is osteomyelitis. SCA is due to a point mutation in the beta globin chain of haemoglobin. This is responsible for the sickled shape of RBCs under low oxygen tension conditions leading to obstruction in the microcirculation. This leads to vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) which has a similar clinical presentation to that of osteomyelitis, another complication of SCD. Case Presentation: We present the case of a three-year-old girl with SCA who presented with an inability to bear weight in a febrile context. A diagnosis of VOC was initially made, which was later on changed to both a left chronic tibial and right distal femoral osteomyelitis following a series of biological, and imaging investigations. Surgical debridement and drainage were performed, resulting 9 weeks later in the involution of fever and leg pain. Conclusion: Osteomyelitis when associated with SCD is a dreadful and deathly disease in low income countries as it also presents like VOC therefore higher suspicion index is recommended. It is therefore important to take this into consideration at an early stage in patients with homozygous sickle cell disease so as to rapidly initiate multidisciplinary care. Appropriate investigations, appropriate antibiotic therapy, and timely surgical intervention would help to greatly reduce morbidity and mortality.

Chronic Osteomyelitis, Sickle Cell Disease, Child

Yolande, D. , Tufong, K. , Jules, T. , Mayah, A. , Charlotte, E. , Njinkui, D. , Enyama, D. , Selangai, H. and Siysi, V. (2021) Osteomyelitis in Children with Sickle Cell Disease: A Challenging Diagnosis: Case Report from Cameroon. Open Journal of Pediatrics, 11, 208-214. doi: 10.4236/ojped.2021.112020.