[Reliability of clinical studies in the diagnosis of malaria fever in West African endemic areas].
We have studied 930 febrile cases in a savanna area of Burkina Faso. We have diagnosed malarial fevers according to the only clinical data in 333 cases and it was confirmed in 154 cases by parasitological study; for 597 cases a non malaria reason was given according to the only clinical data and it was confirmed in 507 cases by biological studies. On the whole the error rate was of 28% on the clinical examination alone and this proportion was equal or superior whatever the parasitological threshold was. The clinical examination is not allow by it self to diagnose a malaria fever case.
D000818:Animals; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005334:Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008288:Malaria / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D010808:Physical Examination; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
Fiabilité de l'examen clinique dans le diagnostic des fièvres palustres en zone d'endémie ouest-africaine.