Severe malaria in Cameroon: Pattern of disease in children at the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric hospital
Background and objective: Malaria is the most widely spread parasitic disease in the world, especially in the tropics affecting mostly children and pregnant women. In children, mostly under-fives carry the heaviest burden in terms of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Infection and Public Health |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034120303932 |
| _version_ | 1828955575751278592 |
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| author | Andreas Chiabi Amandine Nadege M. Djimafo Séraphin Nguefack Evelyn Mah Félicité Nguefack Dongmo Fru Angwafo, III |
| author_facet | Andreas Chiabi Amandine Nadege M. Djimafo Séraphin Nguefack Evelyn Mah Félicité Nguefack Dongmo Fru Angwafo, III |
| author_sort | Andreas Chiabi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background and objective: Malaria is the most widely spread parasitic disease in the world, especially in the tropics affecting mostly children and pregnant women. In children, mostly under-fives carry the heaviest burden in terms of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological and clinical aspects, and outcome of children 3 months to 15 years old with severe malaria at the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital (YGOPH), a referral hospital in Yaounde, Cameroon. Methods: It was a descriptive study at the general pediatric unit of the YGOPH. We enrolled all children aged 3 months to 15 years admitted for severe malaria, with one or more signs of severity and confirmed by a Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) and/or thick blood smear (TBS). Results: Over six months, 1782 children were admitted in the unit and 466 had severe malaria giving a frequency of 26.10%. The mean age was 51 ± 42 months, and the sex ratio was 1.2. The highest transmission rate was during the rainy season, within the months of April and May. The main symptoms on admission were prostration, fever with body temperature ≥40 °C and convulsions (61.90%, 58.00%, and 30.30% respectively). RDT was positive in 98.90% of cases and TBS was positive in 60.00%. The outcome was favourable in 93.30% of the patients and 16 died giving a mortality rate of 3.80%. Conclusion: Severe malaria is a public health problem affecting mostly children under five years. Proper management consists of prompt diagnosis and early appropriate treatment. Prevention is by information, education and communication on environmental cleanliness and the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T07:52:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-63500ce257644e61ac5d2c65e0e5b707 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1876-0341 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T07:52:56Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Infection and Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-63500ce257644e61ac5d2c65e0e5b7072022-12-21T23:10:38ZengElsevierJournal of Infection and Public Health1876-03412020-10-01131014691472Severe malaria in Cameroon: Pattern of disease in children at the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric hospitalAndreas Chiabi0Amandine Nadege M. Djimafo1Séraphin Nguefack2Evelyn Mah3Félicité Nguefack Dongmo4Fru Angwafo, III5Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon; Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, Cameroon; Corresponding author at: Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.Institut Supérieur des Sciences de la Santé, Université des Montagnes, CameroonFaculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon; Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, CameroonFaculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon; Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, CameroonFaculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon; Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, CameroonFaculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon; Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, CameroonBackground and objective: Malaria is the most widely spread parasitic disease in the world, especially in the tropics affecting mostly children and pregnant women. In children, mostly under-fives carry the heaviest burden in terms of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological and clinical aspects, and outcome of children 3 months to 15 years old with severe malaria at the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital (YGOPH), a referral hospital in Yaounde, Cameroon. Methods: It was a descriptive study at the general pediatric unit of the YGOPH. We enrolled all children aged 3 months to 15 years admitted for severe malaria, with one or more signs of severity and confirmed by a Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) and/or thick blood smear (TBS). Results: Over six months, 1782 children were admitted in the unit and 466 had severe malaria giving a frequency of 26.10%. The mean age was 51 ± 42 months, and the sex ratio was 1.2. The highest transmission rate was during the rainy season, within the months of April and May. The main symptoms on admission were prostration, fever with body temperature ≥40 °C and convulsions (61.90%, 58.00%, and 30.30% respectively). RDT was positive in 98.90% of cases and TBS was positive in 60.00%. The outcome was favourable in 93.30% of the patients and 16 died giving a mortality rate of 3.80%. Conclusion: Severe malaria is a public health problem affecting mostly children under five years. Proper management consists of prompt diagnosis and early appropriate treatment. Prevention is by information, education and communication on environmental cleanliness and the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034120303932Severe malariachildrenYaoundeCameroon |
| spellingShingle | Andreas Chiabi Amandine Nadege M. Djimafo Séraphin Nguefack Evelyn Mah Félicité Nguefack Dongmo Fru Angwafo, III Severe malaria in Cameroon: Pattern of disease in children at the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric hospital Journal of Infection and Public Health Severe malaria children Yaounde Cameroon |
| title | Severe malaria in Cameroon: Pattern of disease in children at the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric hospital |
| title_full | Severe malaria in Cameroon: Pattern of disease in children at the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric hospital |
| title_fullStr | Severe malaria in Cameroon: Pattern of disease in children at the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric hospital |
| title_full_unstemmed | Severe malaria in Cameroon: Pattern of disease in children at the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric hospital |
| title_short | Severe malaria in Cameroon: Pattern of disease in children at the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric hospital |
| title_sort | severe malaria in cameroon pattern of disease in children at the yaounde gynaeco obstetric and pediatric hospital |
| topic | Severe malaria children Yaounde Cameroon |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034120303932 |
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