title: Prevalence of malaria, prevention measures, and main clinical features in febrile children admitted to the Franceville Regional Hospital, Gabon.
abstract: Recently, major progress has been made in controlling malaria in Africa. However, in Gabon, little information is available on the role of malaria in childhood febrile syndromes, the use and efficacy of preventive measures, and Plasmodium species distribution. Here, we characterized malaria in febrile children in Franceville, Gabon through a cross-sectional study at the pediatric unit of the Franceville Regional Hospital. We registered 940 febrile children. Their general condition was markedly altered in 11.7% of cases (n = 89/760); among them 19 (21.4%) had a severely altered condition. Malaria was the second most frequent etiology (22.0%; n = 162/738), after respiratory tract infections (37.3%; n = 275/738). Children with malaria (63 ± 39 months) were older than children without malaria (40 ± 37 months) (p = 0.0013). Hemoglobin, red blood cell, white blood cell, and platelet values were lower in children with malaria than in those without malaria (p < 0.0001). Anemia was the most common feature of severe malaria (70.6%; n = 12/17), followed by neurological involvement (23.5%; n = 4/17). The prevalence of malaria was significantly higher in children older than 60 months than in younger children (40% vs. 15.5%; p < 0.0001). Plasmodium falciparum accounted for 97.5% of cases (158/162), followed by Plasmodium malariae (2.5%; n = 4/162). Bed net use was high (74.4%; n = 697/936) and contributed to malaria prevention (p = 0.001). Good basic knowledge of malaria also had a preventive effect (p < 0.0001). The prevalence of malaria in children in Franceville did not decrease significantly from 2009 to 2012, remaining at about 20%, highlighting that preventive measures should be reinforced.
authors: Unité de Parasitologie Médicale (UPARAM), Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), B.P. 769 Franceville, Gabon - Département de Biologie, Université des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku, B.P. 901, Franceville, Gabon.
authors: Sydney
authors: S
authors: Maghendji-Nzondo
authors: Unité de Parasitologie Médicale (UPARAM), Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), B.P. 769 Franceville, Gabon.
authors: Hermann
authors: H
authors: Nzoughe
authors: Département de Biologie Cellulaire et Génétique, Université des Science de la Santé, B.P. 4009 Libreville, Gabon.
authors: Guy Joseph
authors: GJ
authors: Lemamy
authors: Unité de Parasitologie Médicale (UPARAM), Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), B.P. 769 Franceville, Gabon.
authors: Lady Charlene
authors: LC
authors: Kouna
authors: Unité de Parasitologie Médicale (UPARAM), Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), B.P. 769 Franceville, Gabon.
authors: Irene
authors: I
authors: Pegha-Moukandja
authors: Unité de Parasitologie Médicale (UPARAM), Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), B.P. 769 Franceville, Gabon.
authors: Faustin
authors: F
authors: Lekoulou
authors: Département de Biologie, Université des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku, B.P. 901, Franceville, Gabon.
authors: Bertrand
authors: B
authors: Mbatchi
authors: Unité de Parasitologie Médicale (UPARAM), Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), B.P. 769 Franceville, Gabon.
authors: Fousseyni
authors: F
authors: Toure-Ndouo
authors: Unité de Parasitologie Médicale (UPARAM), Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), B.P. 769 Franceville, Gabon - Département de Parasitologie-Mycologie Médecine Tropicale, Faculté de Médecine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, B.P. 4009 Libreville, Gabon.
authors: Jean Bernard
authors: JB
authors: Lekana-Douki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000336:Aerosols; D017677:Age Distribution; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001831:Body Temperature; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005681:Gabon / Q000453:epidemiology; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007306:Insecticides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008288:Malaria / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D057147:Mosquito Nets / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D059208:Parasite Load / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D006454:Hemoglobins; D007306:Insecticides