Malaria Coinfections in Febrile Pediatric Inpatients: A Hospital-Based Study From Ghana.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The epidemiology of pediatric febrile illness is shifting in sub-Saharan Africa, but malaria remains a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality. The present study describes causes of febrile illness in hospitalized children in Ghana and aims to determine the burden of malaria coinfections and their association with parasite densities.

Methods

In a prospective study, children (aged ≥30 days and ≤15 years) with fever ≥38.0°C were recruited after admission to the pediatric ward of a primary hospital in Ghana. Malaria parasitemia was determined and blood, stool, urine, respiratory, and cerebrospinal fluid specimens were screened for parasitic, bacterial, and viral pathogens. Associations of Plasmodium densities with other pathogens were calculated.

Results<

SUBMITTER: Hogan B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5982794 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature