Malaria and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in North Sumatra, Indonesia

A screening test for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency was carried out in North Sumatra, Indonesia by using a simple agar plate method. The prevalence of G6PD deficiency in male was 6.0% (9/151) in Nias prefecture, 3.9% (12/307) in Asahan prefecture and 0.9% (1/110) in Medan city (average 3.9%). The prevalence of malaria was investigated at the same time in Nias and Asahan. It was 8.6% (13/151) and 10.4% (32/307) in males. The parasite rate of Plasmodium falciparum in normal and G6PD deficient groups was 4.1% and 9.5%, respectively. There was no statistical significance between them. The usefulness of the system of detecting malaria and G6PD deficiency at the same time was discussed in relation to malaria control.