title: Clinical and laboratory aspects of malaria among children with fever in a low transmission area of Sudan.
abstract: A cross-sectional study explored the clinical and laboratory aspects of malaria among children presenting with fever to 2 paediatric hospitals in Khartoum state during the low transmission season. Out of 655 febrile patients, 35.9% were recorded as having malaria based on hospital laboratory results. However, re-examination of slides at the National Malaria Control Programme referral laboratory confirmed malaria in only 32.8% of those diagnosed with malaria at hospital level. Analysis of symptoms and signs revealed great variability in clinical presentation. Although some findings were associated with malaria, developing a sensitive clinical algorithm was difficult. Further investment is needed to improve microscopic diagnosis facilities in local hospitals to overcome the problem of over-diagnosis of malaria.
authors.affiliation: National Malaria Control Programme, Khartoum, Sudan. fatihmmalik@hotmail.com
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Eltahir
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Ahmed
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000465:Algorithms; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000469:parasitology; D004433:Earache / Q000469:parasitology; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000469:parasitology; D005334:Fever / Q000469:parasitology*; D006529:Hepatomegaly / Q000469:parasitology; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D012621:Seasons; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000469:parasitology; D013397:Sudan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000469:parasitology