A Review of the Pattern of Malaria in Children above Neonatal Age at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (2006-2011)

摘要

A retrospective study of children presenting with symptoms suggestive of malaria between 2006 and 2011 was carried out in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. Sociodemographic data, clinical information and laboratory investigations were retrieved from the laboratory records of the medical microbiology department. Chi-square analysis was used to assess the prevalence of malaria in the different age groups and sexes. The results showed a 70% prevalence of malaria out of the 23698 patients reviewed. Malaria was significantly higher ( = 18.66, p<0.0001) in male patients compared to female patients There was a significantly higher ( = 6.76, p =0.0093) prevalence (72.70%) of malaria among children under 5 years and 593 (3.47%) patients had severe malaria (≥3+ parasitemia). Severe anaemia, fever and bronchopneumonia were mostly associated with severe malaria. There was an average prevalence of 70.61% from 2006 to 2011. The annual prevalence of malaria declined from 76.7% in 2009 to 60.6% in 2011. The study showed a high prevalence of malaria among the patients, with children under 5 years being the most significantly affected.