Related Experiment Videos
[Epidemiological data on children hospitalized with malaria from 1983 to 1992]
F A Randriamiharisoa1, N J Razanamparany, V Ramialimanana
1Hôpital Général de Befelatanana, Service de Pédiatrie A, Antananarivo.
Insights
Severe malaria in Antananarivo peaked in 1988, primarily affecting children over five. Prompt hospitalization and good nutrition are key to reducing mortality from this Plasmodium falciparum epidemic.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Epidemiology
- Malariology
Context:
- Antananarivo experienced a severe malaria epidemic from 1984 to 1992.
- Data was sourced from hospitalization registers at Befelatanana Hospital's Pediatric Service 'A'.
- Plasmodium falciparum was identified as the predominant parasite responsible for the epidemic.
Purpose:
- To document the clinical manifestations and epidemiological trends of a severe malaria epidemic in children in Antananarivo.
- To identify factors influencing morbidity and mortality during the epidemic.
- To assess the impact of treatment on malaria-related mortality.
Summary:
- The epidemic peaked in 1988, with severe malaria affecting nearly half of pediatric patients.
- Children aged five and above were most affected, with equal gender distribution.
- Mortality was linked to nutritional status and delayed hospital admission, not sex, age, or origin.
- Quinine-based treatment has reduced mortality from cerebral malaria (neuropaludism).
Impact:
- Highlights the significant public health impact of severe malaria epidemics in urban and surrounding areas.
- Underscores the importance of nutritional support and timely medical intervention in managing pediatric malaria.
- Provides insights into the effectiveness of quinine treatment for severe malaria complications.
Abstract:
Authors record the manifestations on the child of the severe malaria epidemic that raged in Antananarivo. Using the hospitalisation registers of the Debré room, Pediatric Service "A", at the Hospital of Befelatanana as source documents, they underline some points: Concerning morbidity, the epidemic started in 1984, reached its highest point in 1988 (26.7%, of in patients) and began to fade away in 1992. Boys and girls were equally affected, with a majority among children of 5 years old and more (51 to 58% of cases). All patients came from the center of Antananarivo (33.5%) or mainly from the surroundings (66.5%). At the highest point of the epidemic, about half of the children were suffering from severe malaria (48.9%). Plasmodium falciparum was the parasite responsible for 93.3% of cases. It seems that mortality is not influenced by sex, age or home but two factors are especially observed: nutrition disorders and delay of hospitalisation. The quinine based treatment has stemmed mortality by neuropaludism since two years.