OBJECTIVE

To assess the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria among school children in an urban and a rural area during different seasons.

SETTING

Molyko (urban area) and Bova (rural area), South West Province, Cameroon.

SUBJECTS

166 and 158 randomly selected children in Molyko during the dry and rainy seasons respectively and 122 and 117 children in Bova during the respective seasons.

DESIGN

A cross sectional study.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Prevalence and parasite density of asymptomatic malaria in the urban and rural areas in the dry and rainy seasons. Prevalence of anaemia in infected and uninfected children during both seasons in the two areas.

RESULTS

There was a significant association between axillary temperature and malaria parasitaemia in both seasons (p<0.05). Overall, the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria in the urban area (Molyko) was higher than that in the rural area (Bova) during both seasons, although the differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05). During the dry season, the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria in the urban area was 42.17% while that of the rural area was 40.16%. During the rainy season, the prevalence value in the urban area was 46.20% and that in the rural area was 43.59%. Malaria infection rates decreased with age during both seasons in both areas and the difference between age groups was statistically significant in Molyko during the rainy season (p<0.05), and Bova during the dry season (p<0.05). Mean packed cell volume (PCV) levels were lower in infected than in uninfected children in all age groups and the difference was significant in Molyko during the rainy season and Bova during the dry season.

CONCLUSION

The lack of a significant difference between the two seasons implies perennial transmission of the disease in the areas. Control measures are, therefore, urgently needed in this region to reduce the burden of the disease.