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Sickle Cell Disease with Fever — Diagnostic Studies — Clinical Pathway: Emergency and Outpatient Specialty Care

Sickle Cell Disease with Fever Clinical Pathway — Emergency Department

Diagnostic Studies

  • Evaluate all children for bacteremia with CBC with differential, blood culture
  • Assess Hgb and reticulocyte count for aplastic crisis
  • Additional testing is based on history and PE
CBC with Diff
Reticulocyte Count
Blood Culture
  • All children
  • Consider:
    • Extra green top for BMP or LFTs
    • Extra purple top (for type and screen)
CXR
Viral Testing
  • Influenza-like illness
    • Test for COVID
    • Test for influenza during flu season
  • RRP
    • May be helpful in children with prolonged fever
UA POC
  • Evaluate if clinical suspicion for UTI, history of previous UTI, renal anomaly
  • If urine POC is positive, send urine culture
Urine HCG All post-menarchal females and all females > 12 yrs
Type and Screen
  • Pale, persistent tachycardia, ill-appearing
  • Suspected splenic sequestration
  • Acute chest syndrome
  • Suspected aplastic crisis
  • Hgb < 5 g/dL or Hgb drop > 2 g/dL from baseline Hgb
  • Reticulocyte count < 2% lower than baseline (unless hemoglobin > 10 g/dL)

 

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