Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Protocol for Plasmodium falciparum Infections in Mosquitoes and Infection Phenotype Determination
14:10

Protocol for Plasmodium falciparum Infections in Mosquitoes and Infection Phenotype Determination

Published on: July 4, 2007

The pattern of malaria infection in under-fives in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

O P Opreh1, E A Abioye-Kuteyi, A O Aboderin

  • 1Seventh-day Adventist Hospital, PMB 5513, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.

Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
|June 17, 2008
PubMed

Insights

High malaria parasite density, lack of mosquito bite prevention, and poverty significantly increase severe malaria risk in Nigerian children under five. Understanding these factors is crucial for effective malaria control.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Malaria disproportionately affects sub-Saharan Africa, with children under five being the most vulnerable population.
  • In Nigeria, malaria contributes significantly to infant (25%) and childhood (30%) mortality.
  • Severe malaria poses a substantial public health challenge in endemic regions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify factors associated with severe malaria in children under five presenting to a hospital in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
  • To determine the prevalence of severe malaria and associated risk factors within this vulnerable demographic.
  • To inform targeted interventions for malaria control in Nigeria.

Main Methods:

  • A study was conducted involving 176 children under five diagnosed with malaria at the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital, Ile-Ife, from May to September 2005.
  • Clinical and parasitological criteria were used for malaria diagnosis.
  • Seventeen variables were examined to identify independent risk factors for severe malaria.

Main Results:

  • The proportion of children with severe malaria was 17%, with a case-fatality rate of 3.5%.
  • High malaria parasite density was a significant risk factor.
  • Non-use of mosquito-bite preventive measures and poverty were independently associated with an increased risk of severe malaria.

Conclusions:

  • High parasite density, lack of protective measures against mosquito bites, and poverty are key independent risk factors for severe malaria in Nigerian children under five.
  • Accurate epidemiological understanding is vital for advancing malaria control efforts.
  • Targeted interventions addressing these factors are necessary to reduce the burden of severe malaria.

More Related Videos

Standard Membrane Feeding Assay for the Detection of Plasmodium falciparum Infection in Anopheles Mosquito Vectors05:28

Standard Membrane Feeding Assay for the Detection of Plasmodium falciparum Infection in Anopheles Mosquito Vectors

Published on: May 12, 2022

Phenotypic Analysis of Rodent Malaria Parasite Asexual and Sexual Blood Stages and Mosquito Stages08:23

Phenotypic Analysis of Rodent Malaria Parasite Asexual and Sexual Blood Stages and Mosquito Stages

Published on: May 30, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Malaria01:29

Malaria

Malaria pathogenesis in humans reflects a delicate interplay between parasite biology and host response. Clinical illness reflects a host’s immune response to the parasite’s asexual replication cycle, which is often asymptomatic in individuals with partial immunity. From the parasite's perspective, transmission between mosquito and human with minimal host pathology is evolutionarily advantageous. Among the six Plasmodium species infecting humans, P. falciparum and P. vivax dominate in global...
Symbiosis00:58

Symbiosis

Symbiotic relationships are long-term, close interactions between individuals of different species that affect the distribution and abundance of those species. When a relationship is beneficial to both species, this is called mutualism. When the relationship is beneficial to one species but neither beneficial nor harmful to the other species, this is called commensalism. When one organism is harmed to benefit another, the relationship is known as parasitism. These types of relationships often...
Patterns of Fever01:26

Patterns of Fever

Before understanding the types and patterns of fever, it is essential to know its phases.
Diversity of Protists II01:27

Diversity of Protists II

Alveolates are a group of organisms recognized by the presence of alveoli, which are cytoplasmic sacs located beneath the cell membrane. While their function remains uncertain, alveoli may help regulate water balance by controlling how much water enters and leaves the cell. In dinoflagellates, these structures may serve as armor plates. There are three major types of alveolates: ciliates, which move using cilia; dinoflagellates, which use flagella for movement; and apicomplexans, which are...
Leishmaniasis01:30

Leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is a protozoal disease caused by species of the genus Leishmania and transmitted through the bite of infected female sandflies. The parasite exists in two principal morphological forms during its life cycle. A sandfly acquires intracellular amastigotes from an infected reservoir host, such as a dog. Within the sandfly, these forms differentiate into motile, flagellated promastigotes. During a subsequent blood meal, promastigotes are injected into the human host, where they...