Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a Ghanaian child

We report a case of a previously well nine-month-old infant who presented with prolonged fever, hepatosplenomegaly and pancytopenia. A diagnosis of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) was made during the course of hospital admission. There was good initial response to dexamethasone but the pat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ghana medical journal 2012-12, Vol.46 (4), p.254-257
Main Authors: Segbefia, C I, Osei-Wusu, A, Obeng, W, Dei-Adomakoh, Y
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use
Bone Marrow - pathology
Case Reports
Dexamethasone - therapeutic use
Diarrhea - etiology
Fatal Outcome
Female
Fever - etiology
Ghana
Glucocorticoids - therapeutic use
Humans
Infant
Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic - complications
Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic - diagnosis
Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic - drug therapy
Recurrence
Splenomegaly - etiology
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Summary:We report a case of a previously well nine-month-old infant who presented with prolonged fever, hepatosplenomegaly and pancytopenia. A diagnosis of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) was made during the course of hospital admission. There was good initial response to dexamethasone but the patient died less than two months after diagnosis. This is the first report of HLH from Ghana. The disease has a significant mortality rate if untreated and a high index of suspicion is required in all severely ill children.
ISSN:0016-9560