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Malarial antibody in Nigerian children born abroad after their return home
1Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu.
Insights
Regular malaria chemoprophylaxis offers no long-term advantage for Nigerian children returning home, even if they were born abroad. Prompt treatment of clinical malaria is key for children from semi-immune mothers.
Area of Science:
- Tropical medicine
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- Malaria remains a significant public health concern, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Children returning to endemic areas may have altered immunity and require specific prophylaxis strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of malaria prophylaxis in Nigerian children returning from abroad.
- To compare malaria attack frequency and antibody levels in different child groups.
Main Methods:
- Study involved three groups of Nigerian children: those born abroad and recently returned, and two local control groups (one protected, one not).
- Malaria chemoprophylaxis and clinical attack frequency were monitored.
- Malarial immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) titres were measured in all participants.
Main Results:
- All groups showed high IFA positivity (>79%), but titres varied: lowest in children born abroad, higher in protected local children, and highest in unprotected local children.
- Clinical malaria frequency was similar between protected children born abroad and those born locally.
- No significant long-term benefit of regular chemoprophylaxis was observed for returning children.
Conclusions:
- For children of semi-immune mothers returning permanently to malaria-endemic regions, regular chemoprophylaxis may not confer long-term advantages.
- Vigilant parental monitoring and prompt treatment of clinical malaria episodes are crucial for managing malaria in these children.
Abstract:
Prophylaxis of malaria and frequency of clinical attacks were studied in a group of Nigerian children who were born abroad and recently returned home. Two control groups of young children, born and resident in Nigeria, were studied in the same way: one group was protected against malaria and the other was not. Malarial immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) was measured in all 3 groups. All the groups had high IFA positivity rates of 79% or over, but titres were low in the children born abroad, higher in the Nigerian-born protected children, and highest in the unprotected group. Frequency of clinical malaria was the same in both groups of protected children whether born abroad or locally. There appeared to be no long-term advantage in giving regular malaria chemoprophylaxis to children of semi-immune mothers returning permanently to malarious countries, if the parents were alert to provide prompt treatment of clinical malaria.