Measuring malaria morbidity in an area of seasonal transmission: Pyrogenic parasitemia thresholds based on a 20-year follow-up study

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217903
• Publication Date: 2019-06-27T13:30:57Z
• Authors: Marion Dollat; Cheikh Talla; Cheikh Sokhna; Fatoumata Diene Sarr; Jean-François Trape; Vincent Richard
• Keywords: Carriage

Introduction Asymptomatic carriage of P. falciparum is frequent in areas endemic for malaria and individual diagnosis clinical attacks still difficult. We investigated the impact changes endemicity on diagnostic criteria an area seasonal transmission. Methods analyzed longitudinal data collected over 20 years from a daily survey all inhabitants Ndiop, rural community central Senegal, logistic regression model to investigate relationship between level Plasmodium parasitemia risk fever, with aim determining best thresholds attributing fever episode. Results A total 34,136 observations recorded July 1993 December 2013 850 individuals aged 1 day 87 were included. asymptomatic declined 36% 1% 2013. 9,819 episodes associated positive blood film falciparum. Using age-dependent episode, we 6,006 during study period. Parasitemia seemed be lower low-to-zero transmission season tended decrease control policies. The number was overestimated age groups throughout when defined as attacks. Conclusion Pyrogenic are particularly sensitive epidemiology therefore interesting tool accurately assess burden context declining