TABLE 4.
Major themes/topics and subtopics identified.
| S/NO | Theme/Topic | Subtopics |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diagnosis of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and Related Conditions | A. Tests for hemoglobin (Hb) type using Hb separation or specific immunologic methods, and DNA-based mutation analyses for confirmation |
| B. Tests to diagnose heterozygous beta thalassemia (trait) in those with “No Hb variant” visible by the Hb separation methods (Hb phenotypes FA, AF, AFA2, AA2F, AA2, A) | ||
| C. Rapid Screening and Point of Care tests for Hb S, C, A | ||
| D. DNA- based tests | ||
| 2 | Health Maintenance and Preventive Therapy | A. Organizing Clinical Care (Outpatient routine; outpatient acute; and inpatient) |
| B. Infection Prevention: General | ||
| C. Immunization | ||
| D. Prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) | ||
| E. Prevention of Malaria | ||
| F. Prevention of enteric Gram-negative organisms (salmonella, E. coli, klebsiella, etc) | ||
| G. Genetic and Reproductive counselling | ||
| H. Female reproductive health (Pregnancy, Contraception and Fertility) | ||
| I. Male reproductive health | ||
| J. Nutrition | ||
| K. Growth and development monitoring in children | ||
| L. Education and psychosocial counselling | ||
| M. Organizing support groups | ||
| N. Transitioning of adolescents to adult care | ||
| O. Travel management | ||
| 3 | Screening for Specific Complications of Sickle Cell Disease | A. Screening for stroke risk |
| B. Screening for renal disease | ||
| C. Screening for retinopathy | ||
| D. Screening for pulmonary disease | ||
| E. Screening for cardiovascular disease | ||
| F. Screening for hypertension | ||
| G. Screening for red cell antibodies related to pregnancy | ||
| 4 | Management of Acute Complications of SCD | A. Acute anaemia |
| B. Acute chest syndrome | ||
| C. Acute hepatobiliary complications | ||
| D. Acute ocular complications | ||
| E. Acute renal failure | ||
| F. Acute SCD pain (vaso-occulsive pain episode, VOPE, or “pain crisis) | ||
| G. Acute splenic sequestration | ||
| H. Acute stroke | ||
| I. Fever and other signs of infection | ||
| J. Osteomyelitis and septic arthritis | ||
| K. Multisystem Organ Failure | ||
| L. Priapism | ||
| 5 | Management of Chronic Complications of Sickle Cell Disease | A. Avascular necrosis |
| B. Cardiac complications | ||
| C. Chronic hypersplenism | ||
| D. Chronic pain | ||
| E. Endocrine complications | ||
| F. Gastrointestinal complications | ||
| G. Leg ulcers | ||
| H. Nocturnal enuresis | ||
| I. Ophthalmologic complications | ||
| J. Psychological complications | ||
| K. Renal complications | ||
| L. Pulmonary complications | ||
| M. Seizures under neurological complications | ||
| N. Stuttering/Recurrent Priapism | ||
| 6 | Special Management Protocols | A. Analgesic Medications and their Use in Sickle Cell Disease |
| B. Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation | ||
| C. Hydration guide | ||
| D. Hydroxyurea Therapy in Sickle Cell Disease | ||
| E. Peri-operative care and surgery | ||
| F. Transfusion Therapy in Sickle Cell Disease/Iron chelation | ||
| G. Organizing SCD clinical service (outpatient routine and acute care, in patient) |