Hydroxyurea Proves Safe and Beneficial for Children with Sickle Cell Anaemia in African Study

A landmark cohort study, part of the NIH-funded REACH trial, has found that hydroxyurea treatment for children with sickle cell anaemia in low-income African settings does not increase the risk of clinically diagnosed infections. Published in The Lancet Haematology, the findings indicate that the drug, even at maximum tolerated doses, can reduce the risk of malaria and non-malarial infections, improving children's ability to withstand infectious threats.