Consequences of COVID-19 in Sickle Cell Disease Patients
Author(s): Tanvi Punj and Sarika Dakhode*
Abstract
Coronavirus comes from a viral family of Coronaviridae and causes respiratory illness in humans. The symptoms of the disease have shown to range from patients being asymptomatic to some having a mild degree cold and cough to severe pneumonia and thromboembolism which have proven to be fatal for few. Severe illness is however seen mostly in individuals who are either immunocompromised or have an existing comorbidity.
Sickle cell disease is one such comorbidity. COVID-19 has posed unimaginable challenges for health care workers due to its unpredictable effect on various individuals. It is therefore difficult to generalize the disease and the treatment course for those with a known chronic prevalent disorder, such as sickle cell disease. COVID-19 has shown different outcomes and complication in adult and pediatric sickle cell disease patients, making it necessary for us to be prepared with the various complications possible and their treatment modalities.
For this article, we have reviewed articles published till 24 November 2021, by searching on platforms like PUBMED, Google Scholar and EMBASE. We have included all the relevant articles including the incidence, pathophysiology, symptomatology, complications, investigations, treatment modalities and prognosis in patients suffering from sickle cell disease and coronavirus infection.