Evaluation of Care Provided for Splenectomized Children and the Role of Patients' Education in Its Improvement

The term "overwhelming post-splenectomy infection" (OPSI) refers to a rapid fatal syndrome occurring in individuals following removal of the spleen. OPSI can progress from a mild flu-like illness to fulminant sepsis in a short time period and has high mortality rate despite maximal treatment. The mainstays of infectious diseases prevention in asplenic subjects include: 1) patient and family education, 2) vaccinations, 3) prophylactic antimicrobial therapy in selected people, 4) early empirical antimicrobial therapy for febrile episodes, 5) early management of animal bites. Studies demonstrated that patients were neither compliant to postsplenectomy booster vaccines nor chemoprophylaxis with oral penicillin. Inadequate information and lack of sufficient education seem to be the major culprit behind this lack of awareness.

The study will be carried out at the Pediatric Hematology Clinic, Cairo University Children Hospital.

Candidates will be given questionnaires that will inquire about education level, disease type, age, duration of illness, age at splenectomy, duration of splenectomy , reception of preoperative vaccines (Pneumococcal, Hemophilus, Meningococcal vaccines) , compliance to postsplenectomy booster doses and penicillin prophylaxis , and if not what are the reasons for that.

Patients will also be given written information educating them about OPSI, its red flags and the importance of post splenectomy care. Interview questionnaire will be given to patients before and after education.