Prevalence of falciparum malaria together with acute diarrhoea in children residing in a malaria endemic zone

Afr J Health Sci. 2005 Jan-Jun;12(1-2):26-30. doi: 10.4314/ajhs.v12i1.30797.

Abstract

To investigate an association between diarrhoea and malaria in children, a study was conducted in Buea on 215 children ranging from 0 - 5 years of age attending the Buea District hospital as out patients. Out of this number 118 (54.9/ ) had acute diarrhoea. The control group without diarrhoea comprised 97 children. Thick blood smears were examined to detect malaria parasites. The prevalence of malaria in the study population was 60/ and mean parasite density was 4460.4 parasites/microl of blood (SD+/-3047.8). There was no significant difference in parasitaemia in children with and without diarrhoea (p>0.5). The prevalence of concurrent malaria and diarrhoea was 20% compared with 40% malaria prevalence in children without diarrhoea. We conclude that there was no association between malaria and diarrhoea in the study population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Cameroon / epidemiology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child, Preschool
  • Comorbidity
  • Diarrhea / epidemiology*
  • Diarrhea / parasitology
  • Endemic Diseases*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Malaria, Falciparum / epidemiology*
  • Male
  • Prevalence