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Malaria and COVID-19 prevalence in a population of febrile children and adolescents living in Libreville

Article scientifique 2022 Anglais

Résumé

Background: Patients with acute febrile illness need to be screened for malaria and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in malaria-endemic areas to reduce malaria mortality rates and to prevent the transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).Objectives: To estimate the frequency of children and adolescents with COVID-19 and/or malaria among febrile patients attending for malaria diagnosisMethod: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a sentinel site for malaria surveillance during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (Omicron variant), from October 2021 to December 2021 in Gabon. All febrile patients were tested for malaria using microscopy. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was detected by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid antigen tests developed by Sansure Biotech®.Results: A total of 135 patients were screened. Their median age was 6 (interquartile range [IQR]: 3–14) years. Malaria was confirmed for 49 (36.3%) patients, 29 (32.5%) children, 13 (59.0%) adolescents and 7 (29.2%) adults. The frequency of COVID-19 cases was 7.4% (n = 10/135), and it was comparable between children (n = 6; 6.7%), adolescents (n = 2; 9.1%) and adults (n = 2; 8.3%) (p = 0.17). Malaria and COVID-19 co-infections were diagnosed in 3 (6.1%) patients from all the age groups. Participants with a co-infection had a higher median temperature, a higher median parasitaemia, and were mostly infected with non-falciparum malaria.Conclusion: COVID-19 cases and cases of malaria/COVID-19 co-infections were found in febrile children and adolescents. SARS-CoV-2 testing should be included in the screening of suspected malaria cases.Contribution: This study highlights the presence of malaria-COVID-19 coinfection among children and adolescents who should also be screened for both diseases, like for adults.

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Ditombi, B., Ngondza, B., Boulingui, C., Nguema, O., Ngomo, J., M’Bondoukwé, N., Moutongo, R., Mawili-Mboumba, D., Bouyou-Akotet, M. (2022). Malaria and COVID-19 prevalence in a population of febrile children and adolescents living in Libreville. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajid.v37i1.459

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Auteur(s)

Bridy Moutombi Ditombi Bédrich Pongui Ngondza Charleine Manomba Boulingui Ornella A. Mbang Nguema Jacques Mari Ndong Ngomo Noé Patrick M’Bondoukwé Reinne Moutongo Denise Patricia Mawili-Mboumba Marielle Karine Bouyou-Akotet

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