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

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/µl 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.

African Journal of Health Sciences Vol. 12(1-2) 2005: 26-30