The usefulness of C-reactive protein in predicting malaria parasitemia in a sub-Saharan African region.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Malaria remains a leading cause of childhood mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Identifying patients who are at risk for severe manifestations at presentation still remains challenging. This study examines whether a semi-quantitative test on C-Reactive Protein (CRP) could be useful for rapidly predicting the presence or absence of malarial parasitemia in febrile children.

Method

Data were collected from children with fever or a history of fever at the Agogo Presbyterian Hospital in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Haematological measurements, microscopic detection of plasmodium species and semi-quantitative CRP measurements with a membrane-based immunoassay for whole blood were performed. CRP was classified as positive when the measured level was ≥ 10 mg/l.

Results</

SUBMITTER: Sarfo BO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6078295 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature