Burden of Severe Malaria in Children at General Sani Abatcha Specialist Hospital, Damaturu, North-Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Malaria still remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children in Nigeria. The initial decrease in the global burden of uncomplicated malaria reported by World Health Organization in 2014 was lost; presently 80% of cases of Malaria reported in the world are in the sub-Saharan African region in which Nigeria is the most populous country. In the insurgency-infested north eastern Nigeria, effort at reduction of malaria cases has not only stagnated but the gains have been reversed. Objective: To determine the burden of severe malaria during the period of high transmission in a region infested by insurgency. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all the records of children admitted with malaria into the paediatric wards of the specialist hospital in 2017, at the peak of malaria infestation. Rapid assessment kit was used to make the diagnosis of malaria. Children with packed cell volume of less 15% transfused with blood were recorded. Results: Of the 2,316 children admitted, severe malaria constituted 1832 (79.1%), of which 104 (5.7%) died. About a quarter (23.4%) of these children had blood transfusion. Conclusion: Malaria infestation was high especially in the latter half of the raining season; there is need to have a multi-pronged and coordinated strategy to halt this ugly trend and ensure qualitative blood transfusion services in the community during this peak period.