Epidemiology of Malaria Using LED Fluorescence Microscopy among Schoolchildren in Douala, Cameroon
Léopold Gustave Lehman *
Parasitology and Entomology Research Unit, Department of Animal Organisms, Faculty of Science, The University of Douala, P.O Box 24157, Douala, Cameroon.
Loick Pradel Kojom Foko
Parasitology and Entomology Research Unit, Department of Animal Organisms, Faculty of Science, The University of Douala, P.O Box 24157, Douala, Cameroon.
Calvin Tonga
Parasitology and Entomology Research Unit, Department of Animal Organisms, Faculty of Science, The University of Douala, P.O Box 24157, Douala, Cameroon.
Hervé Nyabeyeu Nyabeyeu
Parasitology and Entomology Research Unit, Department of Animal Organisms, Faculty of Science, The University of Douala, P.O Box 24157, Douala, Cameroon.
Else Carole Eboumbou
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical sciences, The University of Douala, P.O Box 24157, Douala, Cameroon.
Larissa Kouodjip Nono
Department of Animal Organisms, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O Box 812, Douala, Cameroon.
Lafortune Kangam
Department of Animal Organisms, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O Box 812, Douala, Cameroon.
Arlette Linda Ngapmen
Department of Animal Organisms, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O Box 812, Douala, Cameroon.
Peguy Brice Assomo Ndemba
Parasitology and Entomology Research Unit, Department of Animal Organisms, Faculty of Science, The University of Douala, P.O Box 24157, Douala, Cameroon.
Isabelle Matip
Department of Animal Organisms, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O Box 812, Douala, Cameroon.
Nicolas Policarpe Nolla
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of Douala, P.O Box 24157, Douala, Cameroon.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: Determine factors associated with malaria infection, the prevalence of asymptomatic carriage of malaria parasites and fevers of non malarial origin.
Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in three districts of the town of Douala, Cameroon in 2013.
Methodology: Seven hundred and eighty five (785) schoolchildren aged 3 to 17 years were enrolled upon parental consent and tested for the presence of malaria parasites in capillary blood. In addition, sociodemographic and clinical data were also documented.
Results: The overall prevalence of malaria parasite infection was 45.47% and significantly varied with respect to age, health district and body temperature. Asymptomatic infections accounted for 89.61% of all malaria infection cases. Fevers of non malarial origin were found in 10.73% of the pupils. The overall ITNs use rate found was 45.74% with value significantly lower in males compared to females (20.70% versus 25.03%; P = .04).
Conclusion: There is an urgent need for the implementation of interventions based on active detection and treatment of all cases of malaria infection in community especially in children who pay the heaviest tribute to the disease. CyScope fluorescence microscopy could be a valuable diagnostic tool to achieve this objective.
Keywords: Malaria, epidemiology, fever, schoolchildren, fluorescence microscopy, Douala.