title: Prevalence and case-control study of cerebral malaria in Limbe of the South-West Cameroon.
abstract: A study was carried out in Limbe and its environs to determine the prevalence of cerebral malaria vis- a- vis uncomplicated malaria, and to assess the importance of parasitaemia level, packed cell volume and hypoglucaemia as predictors of cerebral malaria. Data were obtained using a questionnaire administered to 650 people aged between 6 months and 70 years, and by a case-control study on 90 people (30 cases and 60 controls) aged between 6 months and fifteen years. The results of the questionnaire study revealed uncomplicated malaria prevalence rate of 50.9% as against 7.1% for cerebral malaria. The highest prevalence of these infections occurred in the 0-5 years age group, dropping in people aged 16 years and above. The case-control study revealed high parasitaemia (100,000-500,000 parasites/mm3 of blood) in uncomplicated malaria patients and hyperparasitaemia (>500,000 parasites/mm3 of blood) in cerebral malaria patients. Patients with uncomplicated malaria had either normal haemoglobin (PCV<18%). Hypoglycaemia (>40 mg glucose/dl) was recorded in 12.9%of cerebral malaria patients, but in none of the patients with uncomplicated malaria.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, University of Buea, South West Province, Republic of Cameroon.
authors.forename: Lois E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Ikome
authors.forename: Kenneth J N
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Ndamukong
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kimbi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000150:complications*; D007223:Infant; D016779:Malaria, Cerebral / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000150:complications*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires