Malaria in the first 6 months of life in urban African infants with anemia.

• DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2001.65.822
• Publication Date: 2017-05-10T16:36:35Z
• Authors: B M Afolabi; L A Salako; A G Mafe; U B Ovwigho; K A Rabiu; N O Sanyaolu; M M Ibrahim
• Keywords: Male; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Infant, Newborn; Urban Health; Infant; Nigeria; Anemia; Parasitemia; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Age Distribution; 0302 clinical medicine; Hematocrit; Infant Mortality; 11. Sustainability; Humans; Female; Malaria, Falciparum

A total of 446 infants in the first 6 months life who presented at an urban children's hospital with complaints any illness whatsoever were recruited into a study aim determining contribution malaria to infant morbidity malaria-endemic area Nigeria. Sixty-eight their month and 79, 77, 61, 97, 64 second, third, fourth, fifth sixth life, respectively. Overall, 107 (24.0%) clinically diagnosed as having malaria. This included 3 12 15 17 33 fifth, 27 (4.4, 15.2, 19.5, 27.9, 34.0, 42.1%, respectively). Laboratory investigations confirmed 35 (32.7%) those 86 (25.4%) not (n = 339) parasitemia, giving overall parasite rate 27.1% among infants. Acute respiratory infection was major diagnosis (41.3%) that initially but turned out have parasitemia followed by gastroenteritis (11.8%) failure growth (1.5%). Overall geometric mean density 202.5 parasites/microL blood (range, 12-65,317 blood). The hematocrit parasites (33.0%) significantly lower (P < 0.005) than without (35.1%). each age group corresponding group. Among parasites, aged 2 2.9 recorded lowest (30.1%), 1 highest (42.7%). Axillary temperature increased decreased increase density. percentage anemia likewise increased. Plasmodium falciparum present all infected infants, mixed P. malariae only 2.5% infections. Analysis our data suggests urgent need for health education caretakers training clinicians awareness important cause so reduce wasting due easily preventable treatable disease.