Hand-foot syndrome (sickle cell disease)
Hand-foot syndrome, also simply referred to as dactylitis, is a self-limiting manifestation of a vaso-occlusive crisis in individuals with sickle cell anemia.
Terminology
Dactylitis is not a specific finding in sickle cell disease, therefore cautious usage is advised if one chooses to employ it as a synonym for hand-foot syndrome.
Epidemiology
Children from 6 months to 3 years of age are usually affected .
Clinical presentation
Hand-foot syndrome is usually seen in the setting of systemic symptoms of fever and elevated white cell count . It is characterized by swelling of the hands and feet, particularly over the dorsal aspects . It can be unilateral or bilateral.
Features are difficult to distinguish from infection especially if localized (e.g. salmonella) .
Disambiguation
Hand-foot syndrome in sickle cell disease should not be confused with:
