Dactylitis describes inflammation of a digit or digits; fingers or toes.
Painful dactylitis is often an early symptom of sickle cell anaemia. It is a presentation of a painful sickle cell crises.
In sickle cell disease it may be the precipitant of the initial diagnosis, and it rarely causes permanent damage, although there may be resultant shortening of the fingers as a result of premature fusion of the epiphyseal plates.
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