BACKGROUND: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common genetic disease among persons with African ancestry. This article provides a background to SCD and reviews many important aspects of travel preparation in this population. METHODS: The medical literature was searched for studies on travel-associated preparedness and complications in individuals with SCD. Topics researched included malaria, bacterial infections, vaccinations, dehydration, altitude, air travel, and travel preparedness. RESULTS: There is very little published literature that specifically addresses the risks faced by travelers with SCD. Rates of medical complications during travel appear to be high. There is a body of literature that describes complications of SCD in indigenous populations, particularly within Africa. The generalizability of these data to a traveler is uncertain. Combining these sources of data and the broader medical literature, we address major travel-related questions that may face a provider preparing an individual with SCD for safe travel. CONCLUSIONS: Travelers with SCD face considerable medical risks when traveling to developing tropical countries, including malaria, bacterial infections, hypovolemia, and sickle cell-associated vaso-occlusive crises. For individuals with SCD, frank counseling about the risks, vigilant preventative measures, and contingency planning for illness while abroad are necessary aspects of the pre-travel visit.
BACKGROUND:Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common genetic disease among persons with African ancestry. This article provides a background to SCD and reviews many important aspects of travel preparation in this population. METHODS: The medical literature was searched for studies on travel-associated preparedness and complications in individuals with SCD. Topics researched included malaria, bacterial infections, vaccinations, dehydration, altitude, air travel, and travel preparedness. RESULTS: There is very little published literature that specifically addresses the risks faced by travelers with SCD. Rates of medical complications during travel appear to be high. There is a body of literature that describes complications of SCD in indigenous populations, particularly within Africa. The generalizability of these data to a traveler is uncertain. Combining these sources of data and the broader medical literature, we address major travel-related questions that may face a provider preparing an individual with SCD for safe travel. CONCLUSIONS: Travelers with SCD face considerable medical risks when traveling to developing tropical countries, including malaria, bacterial infections, hypovolemia, and sickle cell-associated vaso-occlusive crises. For individuals with SCD, frank counseling about the risks, vigilant preventative measures, and contingency planning for illness while abroad are necessary aspects of the pre-travel visit.
Authors: Michael Aidoo; Dianne J Terlouw; Margarette S Kolczak; Peter D McElroy; Feiko O ter Kuile; Simon Kariuki; Bernard L Nahlen; Altaf A Lal; Venkatachalam Udhayakumar Journal: Lancet Date: 2002-04-13 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Cynthia G Whitney; Monica M Farley; James Hadler; Lee H Harrison; Nancy M Bennett; Ruth Lynfield; Arthur Reingold; Paul R Cieslak; Tamara Pilishvili; Delois Jackson; Richard R Facklam; James H Jorgensen; Anne Schuchat Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2003-05-01 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Fleur M Moesker; Fred D Muskiet; Jeanne J Koeijers; Pieter L A Fraaij; Isaac Gerstenbluth; Eric C M van Gorp; Albert D M E Osterhaus Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2013-08-08
Authors: Amarjot Padda; Catherine Corriveau-Bourque; Mark Belletrutti; Aisha A K Bruce Journal: Paediatr Child Health Date: 2019-04-23 Impact factor: 2.253