Plasmodium falciparum infection among neonates in the North Central Region of Nigeria
Introduction: This cross-sectional study investigated the rate of congenital and neonatal malaria infections in patients attending our hospital. Methodology: Thick and thin blood films of 288 neonates admitted in the Special Care Baby Unit of Jos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria, were examin...
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The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
2013-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Infection in Developing Countries |
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| Online Access: | https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/2775 |
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| author | Caroline Amuche Okoli Seline Nneaku Okolo John Chibunkem Collins |
| author_facet | Caroline Amuche Okoli Seline Nneaku Okolo John Chibunkem Collins |
| author_sort | Caroline Amuche Okoli |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Introduction: This cross-sectional study investigated the rate of congenital and neonatal malaria infections in patients attending our hospital.
Methodology: Thick and thin blood films of 288 neonates admitted in the Special Care Baby Unit of Jos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria, were examined microscopically for malaria parasites. Babies’ and mothers’ demographic and clinical data were analyzed.
Results: Of 288 blood samples examined, 160 (55.6%) were from males, 115 (39.9%) were from babies 0 to 7 days old, and 173 (60.1%) were from babies 8 to 28 days old. In total, 91 (31.6%) babies had malaria parasitaemia, of whom 49 (53.8%) were males. Malaria was significantly higher in babies 8 to 28 days old (p<0.001) and was independent of gender (p=0.692). Prevalence rates for congenital and neonatal malaria were 6.9% and 24.7% respectively.
Clinical presentations on admission included fever, cough, pallor, jaundice, and inability to suck. A total of 145 (50.3%) babies had symptoms of malaria, of whom 56 (61.5%) had malaria parasitaemia. Symptoms of malaria were present in 35 (12.2%) babies of 59 (20.5%) mothers who had symptoms of malaria during pregnancy. Ten (11.0%) of these neonates had malaria parasitaemia, of whom 4 (0.4%) were 0 to -7days old. Plasmodium falciparum was the only specie identified. No mortality was recorded against malaria-infected babies.
Conclusion: High prevalence of malaria in these neonates calls for high index of suspicion. Inclusion of malaria parasite test in the routine battery of tests for babies presenting with clinical signs and symptoms of neonatal infections is recommended.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e65d61cb6df54ffeae4daeb42ea6804e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1972-2680 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2013-05-01 |
| publisher | The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries |
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| series | Journal of Infection in Developing Countries |
| spelling | doaj-art-e65d61cb6df54ffeae4daeb42ea6804e2025-08-20T02:27:23ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802013-05-0170510.3855/jidc.2775Plasmodium falciparum infection among neonates in the North Central Region of NigeriaCaroline Amuche Okoli0Seline Nneaku Okolo1John Chibunkem Collins2University of Jos, Jos, NigeriaUniversity of Jos, Jos, NigeriaUniversity of Jos, Jos, Nigeria Introduction: This cross-sectional study investigated the rate of congenital and neonatal malaria infections in patients attending our hospital. Methodology: Thick and thin blood films of 288 neonates admitted in the Special Care Baby Unit of Jos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria, were examined microscopically for malaria parasites. Babies’ and mothers’ demographic and clinical data were analyzed. Results: Of 288 blood samples examined, 160 (55.6%) were from males, 115 (39.9%) were from babies 0 to 7 days old, and 173 (60.1%) were from babies 8 to 28 days old. In total, 91 (31.6%) babies had malaria parasitaemia, of whom 49 (53.8%) were males. Malaria was significantly higher in babies 8 to 28 days old (p<0.001) and was independent of gender (p=0.692). Prevalence rates for congenital and neonatal malaria were 6.9% and 24.7% respectively. Clinical presentations on admission included fever, cough, pallor, jaundice, and inability to suck. A total of 145 (50.3%) babies had symptoms of malaria, of whom 56 (61.5%) had malaria parasitaemia. Symptoms of malaria were present in 35 (12.2%) babies of 59 (20.5%) mothers who had symptoms of malaria during pregnancy. Ten (11.0%) of these neonates had malaria parasitaemia, of whom 4 (0.4%) were 0 to -7days old. Plasmodium falciparum was the only specie identified. No mortality was recorded against malaria-infected babies. Conclusion: High prevalence of malaria in these neonates calls for high index of suspicion. Inclusion of malaria parasite test in the routine battery of tests for babies presenting with clinical signs and symptoms of neonatal infections is recommended. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/2775Plasmodium falciparumcongenital and neonatal malariaseasonal variationhigh prevalenceJosNigeria |
| spellingShingle | Caroline Amuche Okoli Seline Nneaku Okolo John Chibunkem Collins Plasmodium falciparum infection among neonates in the North Central Region of Nigeria Journal of Infection in Developing Countries Plasmodium falciparum congenital and neonatal malaria seasonal variation high prevalence Jos Nigeria |
| title | Plasmodium falciparum infection among neonates in the North Central Region of Nigeria |
| title_full | Plasmodium falciparum infection among neonates in the North Central Region of Nigeria |
| title_fullStr | Plasmodium falciparum infection among neonates in the North Central Region of Nigeria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Plasmodium falciparum infection among neonates in the North Central Region of Nigeria |
| title_short | Plasmodium falciparum infection among neonates in the North Central Region of Nigeria |
| title_sort | plasmodium falciparum infection among neonates in the north central region of nigeria |
| topic | Plasmodium falciparum congenital and neonatal malaria seasonal variation high prevalence Jos Nigeria |
| url | https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/2775 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT carolineamucheokoli plasmodiumfalciparuminfectionamongneonatesinthenorthcentralregionofnigeria AT selinenneakuokolo plasmodiumfalciparuminfectionamongneonatesinthenorthcentralregionofnigeria AT johnchibunkemcollins plasmodiumfalciparuminfectionamongneonatesinthenorthcentralregionofnigeria |