A Saudi family with sickle cell disease presented with acute crises and
COVID-19 infection, a case report
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has emerged
as a new infectious agent causing the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) pandemic since December 2019. The most severe disease and
mortality due to COVID-19 occur in patients with comorbidities. Sickle
cell disease (SCD) patients are considered immunocompromised due to the
loss of splenic function. Here we report three cases of COVID-19 in one
family affected by SCD. A mother and two siblings were diagnosed with
COVID-19. The two siblings, 14 and 12 years, presented with
vaso-occlusive crisis and one subsequently developed acute chest
syndrome (ACS). All family members had favorable outcomes.