Procalcitonin levels in children affected by severe malaria compared to those with uncomplicated malaria in the absence of bacterial infection: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Background Procalcitonin is an inflammatory marker strongly associated with the presence of bacterial infection. It has been considered raised in severe malaria infection as opposed to uncomplicated malaria. There are suggestions that it may be raised only when there is concomitant unnotice...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-022-00163-9 |
| _version_ | 1818315602505236480 |
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| author | Jean-Claude Katte Kiya Penanje Batakeh B. Agoons Eric Noel Djahmeni Sharon Mbacham-Ngwafor Vicky Jocelyne Ama Moor Paul Koki Wilfred Mbacham |
| author_facet | Jean-Claude Katte Kiya Penanje Batakeh B. Agoons Eric Noel Djahmeni Sharon Mbacham-Ngwafor Vicky Jocelyne Ama Moor Paul Koki Wilfred Mbacham |
| author_sort | Jean-Claude Katte |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Procalcitonin is an inflammatory marker strongly associated with the presence of bacterial infection. It has been considered raised in severe malaria infection as opposed to uncomplicated malaria. There are suggestions that it may be raised only when there is concomitant unnoticeable bacterial infection during a malaria crisis. We aimed to assess the difference in plasma procalcitonin levels between children affected by severe and uncomplicated malaria. Methods We assessed plasma procalcitonin levels in 83 children diagnosed with malaria with no clinical and biological evidence of concomitant bacterial infection. Severity of malaria was established using WHO guidelines. Procalcitonin was determined using the ELISA method. Non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare medians across the 2 groups. Statistical significance was set for all p values < 0.05. Results Of the 83 participants, 28 had uncomplicated malaria, and 55 had severe malaria. PCT levels were obtained in 24 and 40 subjects of each group, respectively, and were similar in both groups; [2.76 (2.52–2.93) vs 2.74 (2.52–2.98) ng/ml, p = 0.916]. The parasite density was lower in the uncomplicated malaria group than in the severe malaria group, but not statistically significant; [22,192 (9110–44 654) vs 31 684 (13 960–73 500) parasites/μl, p = 0.178]. There was no correlation between the parasite density in the general study population and PCT levels (r = 0.072, p = 0.572). Conclusion In the absence of overt bacterial infection, procalcitonin levels are not different between children affected with uncomplicated malaria and those with severe malaria. Therefore, bacterial infection should be thoroughly checked for in children with raised serum procalcitonin diagnosed with severe malaria. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T09:08:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6339c16a5d8945a3bbeded0a9801453e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2055-0936 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T09:08:09Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines |
| spelling | doaj.art-6339c16a5d8945a3bbeded0a9801453e2022-12-21T23:53:01ZengBMCTropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines2055-09362022-03-01811710.1186/s40794-022-00163-9Procalcitonin levels in children affected by severe malaria compared to those with uncomplicated malaria in the absence of bacterial infection: a cross-sectional studyJean-Claude Katte0Kiya Penanje1Batakeh B. Agoons2Eric Noel Djahmeni3Sharon Mbacham-Ngwafor4Vicky Jocelyne Ama Moor5Paul Koki6Wilfred Mbacham7Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde 1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde 1Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde 1National Obesity Centre and Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases Unit, Yaounde Central HospitalDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde 1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde 1Mother and Child Centre, Chantal Biya FoundationDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde 1Abstract Background Procalcitonin is an inflammatory marker strongly associated with the presence of bacterial infection. It has been considered raised in severe malaria infection as opposed to uncomplicated malaria. There are suggestions that it may be raised only when there is concomitant unnoticeable bacterial infection during a malaria crisis. We aimed to assess the difference in plasma procalcitonin levels between children affected by severe and uncomplicated malaria. Methods We assessed plasma procalcitonin levels in 83 children diagnosed with malaria with no clinical and biological evidence of concomitant bacterial infection. Severity of malaria was established using WHO guidelines. Procalcitonin was determined using the ELISA method. Non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare medians across the 2 groups. Statistical significance was set for all p values < 0.05. Results Of the 83 participants, 28 had uncomplicated malaria, and 55 had severe malaria. PCT levels were obtained in 24 and 40 subjects of each group, respectively, and were similar in both groups; [2.76 (2.52–2.93) vs 2.74 (2.52–2.98) ng/ml, p = 0.916]. The parasite density was lower in the uncomplicated malaria group than in the severe malaria group, but not statistically significant; [22,192 (9110–44 654) vs 31 684 (13 960–73 500) parasites/μl, p = 0.178]. There was no correlation between the parasite density in the general study population and PCT levels (r = 0.072, p = 0.572). Conclusion In the absence of overt bacterial infection, procalcitonin levels are not different between children affected with uncomplicated malaria and those with severe malaria. Therefore, bacterial infection should be thoroughly checked for in children with raised serum procalcitonin diagnosed with severe malaria.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-022-00163-9Bacterial infectionsChildSevere malariaProcalcitonin |
| spellingShingle | Jean-Claude Katte Kiya Penanje Batakeh B. Agoons Eric Noel Djahmeni Sharon Mbacham-Ngwafor Vicky Jocelyne Ama Moor Paul Koki Wilfred Mbacham Procalcitonin levels in children affected by severe malaria compared to those with uncomplicated malaria in the absence of bacterial infection: a cross-sectional study Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines Bacterial infections Child Severe malaria Procalcitonin |
| title | Procalcitonin levels in children affected by severe malaria compared to those with uncomplicated malaria in the absence of bacterial infection: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Procalcitonin levels in children affected by severe malaria compared to those with uncomplicated malaria in the absence of bacterial infection: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Procalcitonin levels in children affected by severe malaria compared to those with uncomplicated malaria in the absence of bacterial infection: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Procalcitonin levels in children affected by severe malaria compared to those with uncomplicated malaria in the absence of bacterial infection: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Procalcitonin levels in children affected by severe malaria compared to those with uncomplicated malaria in the absence of bacterial infection: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | procalcitonin levels in children affected by severe malaria compared to those with uncomplicated malaria in the absence of bacterial infection a cross sectional study |
| topic | Bacterial infections Child Severe malaria Procalcitonin |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-022-00163-9 |
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