Is Plasmodium vivax malaria a severe malaria?: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Plasmodium vivax is one of the major species of malaria infecting humans. Although emphasis on P. falciparum is appropriate, the burden of vivax malaria should be given due attention. This study aimed to synthesize the evidence on severe malaria in P. vivax infection compared with that in P. falciparum infection.

Methods/principal findings

We searched relevant studies in electronic databases. The main outcomes required for inclusion in the review were mortality, severe malaria (SM) and severe anaemia (SA). The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Overall, 26 studies were included. The main meta-analysis was restricted to the high quality studies. Eight studies (n = 27490) compared the incidence of SM between

SUBMITTER: Naing C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4133404 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature