[Neonatal screening for sickle-cell disease].

Through migration and birth sickle cell disease has become an important health problem in the Netherlands: it is estimated that each year between 25 and 40 children are born with a form of sickle cell disease. A programme designed towards parental education, prevention and early intervention for complications of sickle cell disease (notably penicillin prophylaxis to prevent pneumococcal septicaemia and meningitis) may lead to reduction in morbidity. Early diagnosis is indicated since children with sickle cell disease will benefit most from such a programme in the first few years of life.