Malaria and COVID-19 prevalence in a population of febrile children and adolescents living in Libreville
S. Afr. j. infect. dis. (Online)
; 37(1): 1-5, 2022. figures, tables
Article
in English
| AIM
| ID: biblio-1398202
Responsible library:
CG1.1
ABSTRACT
Background:
Patients with acute febrile illness need to be screened for malaria and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in malaria-endemic areas to reduce malaria mortality rates and to prevent the transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).Objectives:
To estimate the frequency of children and adolescents with COVID-19 and/or malaria among febrile patients attending for malaria diagnosisMethod:
This cross-sectional study was conducted in a sentinel site for malaria surveillance during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (Omicron variant), from October 2021 to December 2021 in Gabon. All febrile patients were tested for malaria using microscopy. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was detected by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid antigen tests developed by Sansure Biotech®.Results:
A total of 135 patients were screened. Their median age was 6 (interquartile range [IQR] 314) years. Malaria was confirmed for 49 (36.3%) patients, 29 (32.5%) children, 13 (59.0%) adolescents and 7 (29.2%) adults. The frequency of COVID-19 cases was 7.4% (n = 10/135), and it was comparable between children (n = 6; 6.7%), adolescents (n = 2; 9.1%) and adults (n = 2; 8.3%) (p = 0.17). Malaria and COVID-19 co-infections were diagnosed in 3 (6.1%) patients from all the age groups. Participants with a co-infection had a higher median temperature, a higher median parasitaemia, and were mostly infected with non-falciparum malaria.Conclusion:
COVID-19 cases and cases of malaria/COVID-19 co-infections were found in febrile children and adolescents. SARS-CoV-2 testing should be included in the screening of suspected malaria cases.
Full text:
Available
Index:
AIM (Africa)
Main subject:
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
/
Malaria
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
/
Prevalence study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Child
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Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal:
S. Afr. j. infect. dis. (Online)
Year:
2022
Type:
Article
Institution/Affiliation country:
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université des Sciences de la Santé/GA
/
Department of Parasitology-Mycology and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université des Sciences de la Santé/GA
/
Department of Parasitology-Mycology and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon/GA
/
Operational Research Clinical Unit, Hôpital Régional Estuaire Melen/GA
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