Gallbladder stone as a possible cause of acute and recurrent abdominal pain in Nigerian adolescent sicklers: a report of two cases

Nigeria has the highest population of people with sickle cell disease globally. As these patients live longer chronic complications are bound to be encountered more frequently. This case report presents two adolescents with gallbladder stones, to highlight the increasing importance of the condition...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nigerian journal of paediatrics Vol. 45; no. 4; pp. 196 - 198
Main Authors: Ekanem EE, Inah GB, Ikobah JM, Ikpeme AA
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Paediatric Association of Nigeria 01-07-2024
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Summary:Nigeria has the highest population of people with sickle cell disease globally. As these patients live longer chronic complications are bound to be encountered more frequently. This case report presents two adolescents with gallbladder stones, to highlight the increasing importance of the condition as a cause of acute and recurrent abdominal pain in Nigerian sicklers. First patient is a 14year old male sickler with recurrent abdominal pain, and typical changes in the stool, over a period of six months. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed gallbladder stones as the most likely cause of the pain. The second patient is a 17-year-old male who presented with a day history of abdominal pain. Ultrasonography also revealed gallbladder stone as the most likely cause of the pain. It is concluded that gallbladder stone is becoming an increasing important cause of abdominal pain in Nigerian sicklers. Abdominal ultrasonography with a deliberate search for gallbladder stones should be routine in sicklers presenting with abdominal pain.
ISSN:0302-4660
2814-2985