Related Experiment Videos
Hepatomegaly in acute falciparum malaria in children
1Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Insights
Hepatomegaly (enlarged liver) is common in children with acute falciparum malaria, especially younger ones. Persistent liver enlargement indicates ongoing infection, suggesting its use as a malaria transmission indicator.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Tropical Medicine
Background:
- Hepatomegaly is a clinical sign in acute falciparum malaria.
- Its characteristics and correlation with disease severity are not fully understood in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the characteristics of hepatomegaly in children with acute falciparum malaria.
- To assess its relationship with age, symptom duration, and treatment response.
- To evaluate its potential as a malariometric index.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 114 consecutive children with acute falciparum malaria.
- Clinical assessment of hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, and associated symptoms.
- Correlation analysis with age, sex, symptom duration, temperature, and parasite density.
Main Results:
- Hepatomegaly was more frequent than splenomegaly and more common in younger children.
- Liver size correlated negatively with age and positively with symptom duration.
- Persistent hepatomegaly was observed in children with unresolved parasitemia.
Conclusions:
- Hepatomegaly is a significant finding in pediatric falciparum malaria, particularly in younger children.
- Persistent hepatomegaly may indicate treatment failure or ongoing infection.
- Hepatomegaly shows potential as a malariometric index for transmission intensity in endemic areas.
Abstract:
The characteristics of hepatomegaly in acute falciparum malaria were studied in 114 children presenting consecutively with the disease. Hepatomegaly was more common than splenomegaly and was significantly more frequent in younger than in older children. In children with hepatomegaly at presentation, there was an equal sex distribution, a negative correlation between liver size and age, and a positive correlation between liver enlargement and the reported duration of symptoms at presentation. Symptoms attributable directly to liver involvement were relatively uncommon. There was no correlation between liver and spleen size, presenting core temperature, or peripheral parasite density. Tender hepatomegaly and tender splenomegaly were rare during the acute illness; tenderness resolved within 72 h after commencement of antimalarial therapy. Complete resolution of hepatomegaly occurred in 41% of children after recovery from the acute illness (by days 7 or 14), varying degrees of resolution occurred in 48% and no reduction or an increase in liver size occurred in the remainder. In children with hepatomegaly who failed to clear parasitaemia by days 7 or 14, persistent hepatomegaly was common. These results suggest that hepatomegaly, like splenomegaly, may be assessed as a possible malariometric index of the intensity of transmission in children in an endemic area.