Asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia in school children of Ekondo Titi sub-division, Cameroon

Abstract

Asymptomatic malaria is a new challenge for National Malaria Control Programs. As transmission declines, control interventions often become increasingly focal and programs need to adapt and target remaining parasite reservoirs. This study was to assess the prevalence and proportion of asymptomatic malaria infections among school children in Ekondo Titi Sub-Division. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 529 school pupils aged between 4 and 14 years in six primary schools of Ekondo Titi Sub-Division, South West Cameroon. Blood samples were collected from children and used for the preparation of blood films for the detection of malaria parasites, determination of malaria parasite density and hemoglobin concentration. Parasites were present in the peripheral blood of 74.2 % (360) of school children. The prevalence of anaemia was 44. 7 %( 217). The Mean Parasite density of asexual parasites was higher in children with moderate and severe anaemia when compared with non-anaemic children but the difference was not significant. There was no significant difference in the levels of parasitaemia between sexes and age groups. This study indicates that, despite scaling up of malaria elimination programs in Cameroon, there is still a substantial proportion of asymptomatic, individuals with parasitaemia in the country that may act as a silent reservoir for malaria

Keywords: Asymptomatic, transmission, anaemia, reservoirs, malaria