title: Malaria Prevalence among Young Infants in Different Transmission Settings, Africa.
abstract: The prevalence and consequences of malaria among infants are not well characterized and may be underestimated. A better understanding of the risk for malaria in early infancy is critical for drug development and informed decision making. In a cross-sectional survey in Guinea, The Gambia, and Benin, countries with different malaria transmission intensities, the overall prevalence of malaria among infants <6 months of age was 11.8% (Guinea, 21.7%; The Gambia, 3.7%; and Benin, 10.2%). Seroprevalence ranged from 5.7% in The Gambia to 41.6% in Guinea. Mean parasite densities in infants were significantly lower than those in children 1-9 years of age in The Gambia (p<0.0001) and Benin (p = 0.0021). Malaria in infants was significantly associated with fever or recent history of fever (p = 0.007) and anemia (p = 0.001). Targeted preventive interventions, adequate drug formulations, and treatment guidelines are needed to address the sizeable prevalence of malaria among young infants in malaria-endemic countries.
authors.forename: Serign J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Ceesay
authors.forename: Lamine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Koivogui
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nahum
authors.forename: Makie Abdoulie
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Taal
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Okebe
authors.forename: Muna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Affara
authors.forename: Lama Eugène
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Kaman
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bohissou
authors.forename: Carine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Agbowai
authors.forename: Benoit Gniouma
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Tolno
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amambua-Ngwa
authors.forename: N Faly
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Bangoura
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ahounou
authors.forename: Abdul Khalie
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Muhammad
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Duparc
authors.forename: Kamal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamed
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ubben
authors.forename: Kalifa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bojang
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Achan
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: D'Alessandro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D001541:Benin / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005714:Gambia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016701:Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan
keywords: Africa; Malaria; anemia; epidemiology; parasites; prevalence; transmission intensity; transmission settings; young infants