Hydroxyurea reduces infections in children with sickle cell anemia in Uganda.

After starting hydroxyurea treatment, Ugandan children with sickle cell anemia had 60% less severe or invasive infections, including malaria, bacteremia, respiratory tract infections and gastroenteritis, than before starting hydroxyurea treatment (incidence rate ratio =0.40 [95% confidence interval], 0.29-0.54, P<0.001).