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Khalid Mohamed S, Khalid Mohamed D, Ahmed K, Saad F, Zurovac D. Health workers' adherence to malaria case management protocols in Northern Sudan: a qualitative study. Malar J 2024; 23:170. [PMID: 38816778 PMCID: PMC11137897 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04998-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nonadherence to national standards for malaria diagnosis and treatment has been reported in Sudan. In this study, qualitative research examined the clinical domains of nonadherence, factors influencing nonadherent practices and health workers' views on how to improve adherence. METHODS In September 2023, five Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were undertaken with 104 health workers from 42 health facilities in Sudan's Northern State. The participants included medical assistants, doctors, nurses, laboratory personnel, pharmacists and public health officers. The FGDs followed a semi-structured guide reflecting the national malaria case management protocol. Qualitative thematic analysis was performed. RESULTS Nonadherent practices included disregarding parasitological test results, suboptimal paediatric artemether-lumefantrine (AL) dosing, lack of counselling, use of prohibited artemether injections for uncomplicated and severe malaria, artesunate dose approximations and suboptimal preparations, lack of AL follow on treatment for severe malaria; and rare use of primaquine for radical Plasmodium vivax treatment and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine as the second-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria. Factors influencing nonadherence included stock-outs of anti-malarials and RDTs; staff shortages; lack of training, job aids and supervision; malpractice by specialists; distrust of malaria microscopy and RDTs; and patient pressure for diagnosis and treatment. Health workers recommended strengthening the supply chain; hiring personnel; providing in-service protocol training including specialists; establishing external quality assurance for malaria diagnosis; and providing onsite supportive supervision and public health campaigns. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed a broad spectrum of behavioural and systemic challenges in malaria management among frontline health workers in Northern Sudan, including nonadherence to protocols due to resource shortages, training gaps, a lack of supportive supervision and patient pressure. These insights, including health workers' views about improvements, will inform evidence-based interventions by Sudan's National Malaria Control Programme to improve health systems readiness and the quality of malaria case management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Khalid Mohamed
- National Malaria Control Programme, Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan.
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Neelain University, Khartoum, Sudan.
| | - Duha Khalid Mohamed
- National Malaria Control Programme, Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Khansaa Ahmed
- National Malaria Control Programme, Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Fadwa Saad
- National Malaria Control Programme, Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan
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Tchinda Meli E, Bernard YM, Ateba JM, Tchoutang L, Mouliom A, Ciceron AC, Mostel J, Tchadjeu C, Palata O, Wirngo M, Fofana A, Barat LM. Impact of the Severe Malaria "Champions Program" on the Management of Severe Malaria Cases in 12 Hospitals of the North and Far North Regions of Cameroon. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2024; 110:76-82. [PMID: 38320307 PMCID: PMC10919230 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.23-0528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Malaria remains a main cause of morbidity and mortality in Cameroon. Since 2021, the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative Impact Malaria Project has supported the National Malaria Control Program to develop the Champions program in two northern regions. We assessed this program's preliminary effectiveness on the performance of hospitals in the management of severe malaria and reduction of malaria-related deaths. We conducted a secondary analysis of Outreach Training and Supportive Supervision (OTSS) data from four rounds (one round pre-Champions program and three rounds post-Champions program and 2020-2022 malaria-related mortality data for 12 hospitals). Using linear regressions, we measured changes in hospital readiness and competency of health workers in the management of severe malaria between baseline and subsequent rounds. There were statistically significant improvements in overall management of severe malaria scores in post-Champions OTSS rounds, with post-Champions round 3 exhibiting an increase of +14% (P = 0.013) over baseline. Overall health facility readiness scores exhibited an increase of +7% (P = 0.006) from baseline to post-Champions round 3. There were no statistically significant findings associated with providing the right treatment, as nearly all patients hospitalized with severe malaria were treated with a recommended severe malaria treatment. Reported inpatient malaria deaths and case fatality rates trended downward from 2020 to 2022, but these differences were not statistically significant. The Champions program resulted in significant improvements in quality of inpatient care for severe malaria. The downward trends in malaria deaths and case fatality rate will require further monitoring to determine whether the Champions program is having the desired impact of reducing inpatient deaths from malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Tchinda Meli
- U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative Impact Malaria Project, Jhpiego, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Yves-Marie Bernard
- U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative Impact Malaria Project, Population Services International, Washington, District of Columbia
| | | | - Landry Tchoutang
- U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative Impact Malaria Project, Association Camerounaise pour le Marketing Social, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Abas Mouliom
- U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative Impact Malaria Project, Association Camerounaise pour le Marketing Social, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Annie Coriolan Ciceron
- U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative Impact Malaria Project, Population Services International, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Jadmin Mostel
- U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative Impact Malaria Project, Population Services International, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Christophe Tchadjeu
- U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative Impact Malaria Project, Association Camerounaise pour le Marketing Social, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Olivier Palata
- U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative Impact Malaria Project, Association Camerounaise pour le Marketing Social, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Mohamadu Wirngo
- U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative, U.S. Agency for International Development, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Aissata Fofana
- U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative, U.S. Agency for International Development, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Lawrence M. Barat
- U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative Impact Malaria Project, Population Services International, Washington, District of Columbia
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Garcia Gomez E, Igunza KA, Madewell ZJ, Akelo V, Onyango D, El Arifeen S, Gurley ES, Hossain MZ, Chowdhury MAI, Islam KM, Assefa N, Scott JAG, Madrid L, Tilahun Y, Orlien S, Kotloff KL, Tapia MD, Keita AM, Mehta A, Magaço A, Torres-Fernandez D, Nhacolo A, Bassat Q, Mandomando I, Ogbuanu I, Cain CJ, Luke R, Kamara SIB, Legesse H, Madhi S, Dangor Z, Mahtab S, Wise A, Adam Y, Whitney CG, Mutevedzi PC, Blau DM, Breiman RF, Tippett Barr BA, Rees CA. Identifying delays in healthcare seeking and provision: The Three Delays-in-Healthcare and mortality among infants and children aged 1-59 months. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 4:e0002494. [PMID: 38329969 PMCID: PMC10852234 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Delays in illness recognition, healthcare seeking, and in the provision of appropriate clinical care are common in resource-limited settings. Our objective was to determine the frequency of delays in the "Three Delays-in-Healthcare", and factors associated with delays, among deceased infants and children in seven countries with high childhood mortality. We conducted a retrospective, descriptive study using data from verbal autopsies and medical records for infants and children aged 1-59 months who died between December 2016 and February 2022 in six sites in sub-Saharan Africa and one in South Asia (Bangladesh) and were enrolled in Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS). Delays in 1) illness recognition in the home/decision to seek care, 2) transportation to healthcare facilities, and 3) the receipt of clinical care in healthcare facilities were categorized according to the "Three Delays-in-Healthcare". Comparisons in factors associated with delays were made using Chi-square testing. Information was available for 1,326 deaths among infants and under 5 children. The majority had at least one identified delay (n = 854, 64%). Waiting >72 hours after illness recognition to seek health care (n = 422, 32%) was the most common delay. Challenges in obtaining transportation occurred infrequently when seeking care (n = 51, 4%). In healthcare facilities, prescribed medications were sometimes unavailable (n = 102, 8%). Deceased children aged 12-59 months experienced more delay than infants aged 1-11 months (68% vs. 61%, P = 0.018). Delays in seeking clinical care were common among deceased infants and children. Additional study to assess the frequency of delays in seeking clinical care and its provision among children who survive is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Garcia Gomez
- Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | | | - Zachary J. Madewell
- Global Health Center, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Victor Akelo
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Kenya, Kisumu, Kenya
| | | | - Shams El Arifeen
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Emily S. Gurley
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Mohammad Zahid Hossain
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Kazi Munisul Islam
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Nega Assefa
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia
- Hararghe Health Research, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia
| | | | - Lola Madrid
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia
- Hararghe Health Research, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia
| | - Yenenesh Tilahun
- College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia
- Hararghe Health Research, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia
| | - Stian Orlien
- College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Hargeisa, Hargeisa, Somaliland
- Department of Paediatrics, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway
| | - Karen L. Kotloff
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Milagritos D. Tapia
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | | | - Ashka Mehta
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Amilcar Magaço
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
| | - David Torres-Fernandez
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
- ISGlobal – Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ariel Nhacolo
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Quique Bassat
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
- ISGlobal – Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca I Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
- Pediatrics Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Esplugues, Barcelona, Spain
- Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Inácio Mandomando
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
- ISGlobal – Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Instituto Nacional de Saúde, Ministério de Saúde, Maputo, Moçambique
| | | | | | - Ronita Luke
- Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | | | | | - Shabir Madhi
- South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Ziyaad Dangor
- South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Sana Mahtab
- South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Amy Wise
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rahima Mossa Mother and Child Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Yasmin Adam
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Cynthia G. Whitney
- Global Health Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Portia C. Mutevedzi
- Global Health Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Dianna M. Blau
- Global Health Center, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Robert F. Breiman
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | | | - Chris A. Rees
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
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Hossain MS, Ahmed TS, Sultana N, Chowdhury MAB, Uddin MJ. Examining the disparities of anti-malarial drug consumption among children under the age of five: a study of 5 malaria-endemic countries. Malar J 2023; 22:370. [PMID: 38049847 PMCID: PMC10696736 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-023-04805-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria is one of the most prominent illnesses affecting children, ranking as one of the key development concerns for many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). There is not much information available on the use of anti-malarial drugs in LMICs in children under five. The study aimed to investigate disparities in anti-malarial drug consumption for malaria among children under the age of five in LMICs. METHODS This study used recent available cross-sectional data from the Malaria Indicator Survey (MIS) datasets across five LMICs (Guinea, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone), which covered a portion of sub-Saharan Africa. The study was carried out between January 2, 2023, and April 15, 2023, and included children under the age of five who had taken an anti-malarial drug for malaria 2 weeks before the survey date. The outcome variable was anti-malarial drug consumption, which was classified into two groups: those who had taken anti-malarial drugs and those who had not. RESULTS In the study of LMICs, 32,397 children under five were observed, and among them, 44.1% had received anti-malarial drugs. Of the five LMICs, Kenya had the lowest (9.2%) and Mali had the highest (70.5%) percentages of anti-malarial drug consumption. Children under five with malaria are more likely to receive anti-malarial drugs if they are over 1 year old, live in rural areas, have mothers with higher education levels, and come from wealthier families. CONCLUSION The study emphasizes the importance of developing universal coverage strategies for anti-malarial drug consumption at both the national and local levels. The study also recommends that improving availability and access to anti-malarial drugs may be necessary, as the consumption of these drugs for treating malaria in children under the age of five is shockingly low in some LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Sabbir Hossain
- Department of Statistics, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, 3114, Bangladesh
| | - Talha Sheikh Ahmed
- Department of Geography and Environment, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, 3114, Bangladesh
| | - Nahid Sultana
- Department of Statistics, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, 3114, Bangladesh
| | | | - Md Jamal Uddin
- Department of Statistics, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, 3114, Bangladesh.
- Faculty of Graduate Studies, Daffodil International University, Savar, Dhaka, 1216, Bangladesh.
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Foko LPK, Narang G, Tamang S, Hawadak J, Jakhan J, Sharma A, Singh V. The spectrum of clinical biomarkers in severe malaria and new avenues for exploration. Virulence 2022; 13:634-653. [PMID: 36036460 PMCID: PMC9427047 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2022.2056966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Globally, malaria is a public health concern, with severe malaria (SM) contributing a major share of the disease burden in malaria endemic countries. In this context, identification and validation of SM biomarkers are essential in clinical practice. Some biomarkers (C-reactive protein, angiopoietin 2, angiopoietin-2/1 ratio, platelet count, histidine-rich protein 2) have yielded interesting results in the prognosis of Plasmodium falciparum severe malaria, but for severe P. vivax and P. knowlesi malaria, similar evidence is missing. The validation of these biomarkers is hindered by several factors such as low sample size, paucity of evidence-evaluating studies, suboptimal values of sensitivity/specificity, poor clinical practicality of measurement methods, mixed Plasmodium infections, and good clinical value of the biomarkers for concurrent infections (pneumonia and current COVID-19 pandemic). Most of these biomarkers are non-specific to pathogens as they are related to host response and hence should be regarded as prognostic/predictive biomarkers that complement but do not replace pathogen biomarkers for clinical evaluation of SM patients. This review highlights the importance of research on diagnostic/predictive/therapeutic biomarkers, neglected malaria species, and clinical practicality of measurement methods in future studies. Finally, the importance of omics technologies for faster identification/validation of SM biomarkers is also included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loick Pradel Kojom Foko
- Parasite and Host Biology Group, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Geetika Narang
- Parasite and Host Biology Group, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Suman Tamang
- Parasite and Host Biology Group, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Joseph Hawadak
- Parasite and Host Biology Group, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Jahnvi Jakhan
- Parasite and Host Biology Group, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Amit Sharma
- Parasite and Host Biology Group, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India.,Molecular Medicine Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Vineeta Singh
- Parasite and Host Biology Group, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India
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Ojo AA, Maxwell K, Oresanya O, Adaji J, Hamade P, Tibenderana JK, Abubakar SS, Audu BM, Njidda A, Gubio AB, Snow RW, Zurovac D. Health systems readiness and quality of inpatient malaria case-management in Kano State, Nigeria. Malar J 2020; 19:384. [PMID: 33126886 PMCID: PMC7602350 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-020-03449-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nigeria was among the first African countries to adopt and implement change of treatment policy for severe malaria from quinine to artesunate. Seven years after the policy change health systems readiness and quality of inpatient malaria case-management practices were evaluated in Kano State of Nigeria. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in May 2019 at all public hospitals. Data collection comprised hospital assessments, interviews with inpatient health workers and data extraction from medical files for all suspected malaria patients admitted to the paediatric and medical wards in April 2019. Descriptive analyses included 22 hospitals, 154 health workers and 1,807 suspected malaria admissions analysed from malaria test and treat case-management perspective. RESULTS 73% of hospitals provided malaria microscopy, 27% had rapid diagnostic tests and 23% were unable to perform any parasitological malaria diagnosis. Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) was available at 96% of hospitals, artemether vials at 68% while injectable quinine and artesunate were equally stocked at 59% of hospitals. 32%, 21% and 15% of health workers had been exposed to relevant trainings, guidelines and supervision respectively. 47% of suspected malaria patients were tested while repeat testing was rare (7%). 60% of confirmed severe malaria patients were prescribed artesunate. Only 4% of admitted non-severe test positive cases were treated with ACT, while 76% of test negative patients were prescribed an anti-malarial. Artemether was the most common anti-malarial treatment for non-severe test positive (55%), test negative (43%) and patients not tested for malaria (45%). In all categories of the patients, except for confirmed severe cases, artemether was more commonly prescribed for adults compared to children. 44% of artesunate-treated patients were prescribed ACT follow-on treatment. Overall compliance with test and treat policy for malaria was 13%. CONCLUSIONS Translation of new treatment policy for severe malaria into inpatient practice is compromised by lack of malaria diagnostics, stock-outs of artesunate and suboptimal health workers' practices. Establishment of the effective supply chain and on-going supportive interventions for health workers accompanied with regular monitoring of the systems readiness and clinical practices are urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Bala M Audu
- National Malaria Elimination Programme, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Ahmad Njidda
- National Malaria Elimination Programme, Abuja, Nigeria
| | | | - Robert W Snow
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya.,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Dejan Zurovac
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya. .,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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Ashley EA, Poespoprodjo JR. Treatment and prevention of malaria in children. THE LANCET CHILD & ADOLESCENT HEALTH 2020; 4:775-789. [PMID: 32946831 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-4642(20)30127-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Malaria disproportionately affects children younger than 5 years. Falciparum malaria is responsible for more than 200 000 child deaths per year in Africa and vivax malaria is well documented as a cause of severe anaemia and excess mortality in children in Asia and Oceania. For the treatment of malaria in children, paediatric dosing recommendations for several agents, including parenteral artesunate and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine, have belatedly been shown to be suboptimal. Worsening antimalarial resistance in Plasmodium falciparum in the Greater Mekong Subregion threatens to undermine global efforts to control malaria. Triple antimalarial combination therapies are being evaluated to try to impede this threat. The RTS,S/AS01 vaccine gives partial protection against falciparum malaria and is being evaluated in large, pilot studies in Ghana, Malawi, and Kenya as a complementary tool to other preventive measures. Seasonal malaria chemoprevention in west Africa has resulted in declines in malaria incidence and deaths and there is interest in scaling up efforts by expanding the age range of eligible recipients. Preventing relapse in Plasmodium vivax infection with primaquine is challenging because treating children who have G6PD deficiency with primaquine can cause acute haemolytic anaemia. The safety of escalating dose regimens for primaquine is being studied to mitigate this risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Ashley
- Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Vientiane, Laos; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Jeanne Rini Poespoprodjo
- Timika Research Facility, Papuan Health and Community Development Foundation, Timika, Indonesia; Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
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8
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Varo R, Balanza N, Mayor A, Bassat Q. Diagnosis of clinical malaria in endemic settings. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2020; 19:79-92. [PMID: 32772759 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2020.1807940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Malaria continues to be a major global health problem, with over 228 million cases and 405,000 deaths estimated to occur annually. Rapid and accurate diagnosis of malaria is essential to decrease the burden and impact of this disease, particularly in children. We aimed to review the main available techniques for the diagnosis of clinical malaria in endemic settings and explore possible future options to improve its rapid recognition. AREAS COVERED literature relevant to malaria diagnosis was identified through electronic searches in Pubmed, with no language or date restrictions and limited to humans. EXPERT OPINION Light microscopy is still considered the gold standard method for malaria diagnosis and continues to be at the frontline of malaria diagnosis. However, technologies as rapid diagnostic tests, mainly those who detect histidine-rich protein-2, offer an accurate, rapid and affordable alternative for malaria diagnosis in endemic areas. They are now the technique most extended in endemic areas for parasitological confirmation. In these settings, PCR-based assays are usually restricted to research and they are not currently helpful in the management of clinical malaria. Other technologies, such as isothermal methods could be an interesting and alternative approach to PCR in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosauro Varo
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat De Barcelona , Barcelona, Spain.,Centro De Investigação Em Saúde De Manhiça (CISM) , Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Núria Balanza
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat De Barcelona , Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alfredo Mayor
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat De Barcelona , Barcelona, Spain.,Centro De Investigação Em Saúde De Manhiça (CISM) , Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Quique Bassat
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat De Barcelona , Barcelona, Spain.,Centro De Investigação Em Saúde De Manhiça (CISM) , Maputo, Mozambique.,ICREA, Pg. Lluís Companys 23 , Barcelona, Spain.,Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Pediatrics Department, Hospital Sant Joan De Deu (University of Barcelona) , Barcelona, Spain.,Consorcio De Investigación Biomédica En Red De Epidemiología Y Salud Publica (CIBERESP) , Madrid, Spain
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9
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Shuai Y, Liu B, Zhou G, Rong L, Niu C, Jin L. Oral manifestations related to malaria: A systematic review. Oral Dis 2020; 27:1616-1620. [PMID: 32657518 DOI: 10.1111/odi.13549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To generalize the oral manifestations related to malaria and discuss their clinical significance for health professionals. MATERIALS AND METHODS The bibliographic databases of Public MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus were employed to retrieve publications online from January 1781 to August 2019. Original research articles, clinical trials, and case reports published in English were included. RESULTS A small number of studies reported oral manifestations of malaria (n = 29), including gingival bleeding, glossitis, oral ulcer, abnormal oral pigmentation, pericoronitis, herpes labialis, herpes gingivostomatitis, bitter taste, sore throat, Burkitt lymphoma of the jaw, alveolar bone resorption, and enamel hypoplasia. CONCLUSION Oral manifestations may be important indicators for identification of malaria. Dental and general professionals should pay more attention to oral manifestations in malaria cases, and guide them for specialized examination, diagnosis, and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Shuai
- Department of Stomatology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Stomatology, General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command, PLA, Nanjing, China
| | - Bingyao Liu
- Department of Stomatology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Stomatology, General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command, PLA, Nanjing, China
| | - Guilong Zhou
- Department of Stomatology, 987th Hospital, PLA, Baoji, China
| | - Liang Rong
- Department of Stomatology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Stomatology, General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command, PLA, Nanjing, China
| | - Chunzi Niu
- Department of Stomatology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Stomatology, General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command, PLA, Nanjing, China
| | - Lei Jin
- Department of Stomatology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Stomatology, General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command, PLA, Nanjing, China
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10
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Balanza N, Erice C, Ngai M, Varo R, Kain KC, Bassat Q. Host-Based Prognostic Biomarkers to Improve Risk Stratification and Outcome of Febrile Children in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Front Pediatr 2020; 8:552083. [PMID: 33072673 PMCID: PMC7530621 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2020.552083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Fever is one of the leading causes for pediatric medical consultation and the most common symptom at clinical presentation in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Most febrile episodes are due to self-limited infections, but a small proportion of children will develop life-threatening infections. The early recognition of children who have or are progressing to a critical illness among all febrile cases is challenging, and there are currently no objective and quantitative tools to do so. This results in increased morbidity and mortality among children with impending life-threatening infections, whilst contributing to the unnecessary prescription of antibiotics, overwhelming health care facilities, and harm to patients receiving avoidable antimicrobial treatment. Specific fever origin is difficult to ascertain and co-infections in LMICs are common. However, many severe infections share common pathways of host injury irrespective of etiology, including immune and endothelial activation that contribute to the pathobiology of sepsis (i.e., pathogen "agnostic" mechanisms of disease). Importantly, mediators of these pathways are independent markers of disease severity and outcome. We propose that measuring circulating levels of these factors can provide quantitative and objective evidence to: enable early recognition of severe infection; guide patient triage and management; enhance post-discharge risk stratification and follow up; and mitigate potential gender bias in clinical decisions. Here, we review the clinical and biological evidence supporting the clinical utility of host immune and endothelial activation biomarkers as components of novel rapid triage tests, and discuss the challenges and needs for developing and implementing such tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Núria Balanza
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Clara Erice
- Sandra-Rotman Centre for Global Health, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network-Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Tropical Disease Unit, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michelle Ngai
- Sandra-Rotman Centre for Global Health, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network-Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Tropical Disease Unit, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rosauro Varo
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Manhiça, Mozambique
| | - Kevin C Kain
- Sandra-Rotman Centre for Global Health, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network-Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Tropical Disease Unit, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Quique Bassat
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Manhiça, Mozambique.,ICREA, Barcelona, Spain.,Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Pediatrics Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu (University of Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain.,Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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