# Emergency Presentations of Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease in French Guiana

## TL;DR

This study examines how often children with sickle cell disease visit emergency departments in French Guiana and highlights delays in treatment.

## Contribution

The study provides insights into emergency care patterns and delays for pediatric sickle cell disease patients in French Guiana.

## Key findings

- 6.4 per 1000 children up to 18 years had emergency visits related to sickle cell disease.
- Average waiting time in the emergency department decreased from 2 hours in 2014 to 45 minutes in 2022.
- Children with sickle cell anemia were more likely to be seen by a consultant in the emergency department.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the proportion of pediatric emergency admissions related to sickle cell disease. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. The data were collected over a period of 9 years, from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2022. Results: We recorded 858 emergency department visits related to sickle cell disease out of a total of 135,000 pediatric emergency department visits, giving a prevalence of 6.4 per 1000 children aged up to 18 years. The median age was 12 years (8–16) years. The average waiting time in the emergency department for children with sickle cell disease was 2 h (±1) in 2014 and 45 min (±15) in 2022. Children with sickle cell anemia were more likely than others to have been seen by a consultant in an emergency department. The most commonly associated pathology was asthma, with a frequency of 17%. The risk factors for hospitalization were an age between 5 and 10 years and a severe form of sickle cell disease. Conclusions: The treatment of pain and fever were often delayed. This leads us to suggest that systematic prior communication between the pediatric hematologist and the emergency physician is crucial. However, there is a need to define best practices for the management of children with sickle cell disease presenting to the emergency department with a fever.