Variation in haematological parameters in children less than five years of age with asymptomatic Plasmodium infection: implication for malaria field studies
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
;
108(5): 644-650, ago. 2013. tab, graf
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-680765
ABSTRACT
During the season of high malaria transmission, most children are infected by Plasmodium, which targets red blood cells (RBCs), affecting haematological parameters. To describe these variations, we examined the haematological profiles of two groups of children living in a malaria-endemic area. A cross-sectional survey was conducted at the peak of the malaria transmission season in a rural area of Burkina Faso. After informed consent and clinical examination, blood samples were obtained from the participants for malaria diagnosis and a full blood count. Of the 414 children included in the analysis, 192 were not infected with Plasmodium, whereas 222 were asymptomatic carriers of Plasmodium infection. The mean age of the infected children was 41.8 months (range of 26.4-57.2) compared to 38.8 months (range of 22.4-55.2) for the control group (p = 0.06). The asymptomatic infected children tended to have a significantly lower mean haemoglobin level (10.8 g/dL vs. 10.4 g/dL; p < 0.001), mean lymphocyte count (4592/µL vs. 5141/µL; p = 0.004), mean platelet count (266 x 103/µL vs. 385 x 103/µL; p < 0.001) and mean RBC count (4.388 x 106/µL vs. 4.158 x 106/µL; p < 0.001) and a higher mean monocyte count (1403/µL vs. 1192/µL; p < 0.001) compared to the control group. Special attention should be applied when interpreting haematological parameters and evaluating immune responses in asymptomatic infected children living in malaria-endemic areas and enrolled in vaccine trials.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Plasmodium
/
Parasitemia
/
Asymptomatic Infections
/
Malaria
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prevalence study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
Africa
Language:
English
Journal:
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
Journal subject:
Tropical Medicine
/
Parasitology
Year:
2013
Type:
Article
/
Project document
Affiliation country:
Burkina Faso
Institution/Affiliation country:
Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme/BF
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