Age-dependent sex bias in clinical malarial disease in hypoendemic regions.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objectives

Experimental models show a male bias in murine malaria; however, extant literature on biases in human clinical malaria is inconclusive. Studies in hyperendemic areas document an absence of sexual dimorphism in clinical malaria. Data on sex bias in clinical malaria in hypoendemic areas is ambiguous--some reports note a male bias but do not investigate the role of differential mosquito exposure in that bias. Moreover, these studies do not examine whether the bias is age related. This study investigates whether clinical malaria in hypoendemic regions exhibits a sex bias and whether this bias is age-dependent. We also consider the role of vector exposure in this bias.

Methods

Retrospective passive clinical malaria datasets (2002-2007) and active surveil

SUBMITTER: Pathak S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3338423 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature