Pneumococcal sepsis in children with sickle cell disease.

Pneumococcal sepsis has contributed to increased morbidity and mortality in patients with sickle cell disease. This case highlights the urgency of early diagnosis and the necessity of aggressive intervention in the management of sickle cell patients, particularly during the years of early childhood. It cannot be overemphasized that sickle cell patients, especially those less than 5 years of age, should be monitored carefully and institution of parenteral antibiotics should be undertaken early, even in those patients that present with mild symptoms.