Malaria and Chikungunya Detected Using Molecular Diagnostics Among Febrile Kenyan Children.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In sub-Saharan Africa, malaria is frequently overdiagnosed as the cause of an undifferentiated febrile illness, whereas arboviral illnesses are presumed to be underdiagnosed.

Methods

Sera from 385 febrile Kenyan children, who presented to 1 of 4 clinical sites, were tested using microscopy and real-time molecular assays for dengue virus (DENV), chikungunya virus (CHIKV), malaria, and Leptospira.

Results

Malaria was the primary clinical diagnosis for 254 patients, and an arboviral infection (DENV or CHIKV) was the primary diagnosis for 93 patients. In total, 158 patients (41.0%) had malaria and 32 patients (8.3%) had CHIKV infections. Compared with real-time polymerase chain reaction, microscopy demonstrated a percent positive agreement of 49.7%. The

SUBMITTER: Waggoner J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5505337 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature