Kimbi H K, Nformi D, Ndamukong K J N
Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, PO Box 63, Buea, SW P Cameroon.
Cent Afr J Med. 2005 Jan-Feb;51(1-2):5-10.
To assess the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria among school children in an urban and a rural area during different seasons.
Molyko (urban area) and Bova (rural area), South West Province, Cameroon.
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.
A cross sectional study.
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.
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.
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.
评估不同季节城市和农村地区学龄儿童无症状疟疾的患病率。
喀麦隆西南省的莫利科（城市地区）和博瓦（农村地区）。
莫利科分别在旱季和雨季随机抽取的166名和158名儿童，以及博瓦在相应季节的122名和117名儿童。
横断面研究。
旱季和雨季城市和农村地区无症状疟疾的患病率及寄生虫密度。两个地区两个季节感染和未感染儿童的贫血患病率。
两个季节腋窝温度与疟疾寄生虫血症之间均存在显著关联（p<0.05）。总体而言，两个季节城市地区（莫利科）无症状疟疾的患病率均高于农村地区（博瓦），尽管差异无统计学意义（p>0.05）。旱季，城市地区无症状疟疾的患病率为42.17%，农村地区为40.16%。雨季，城市地区的患病率为46.20%，农村地区为43.59%。两个地区两个季节的疟疾感染率均随年龄降低，且莫利科雨季（p<0.05）和博瓦旱季（p<0.05）各年龄组之间的差异具有统计学意义。所有年龄组中，感染儿童的平均红细胞压积（PCV）水平均低于未感染儿童，莫利科雨季和博瓦旱季的差异显著。
两个季节之间缺乏显著差异意味着该疾病在这些地区常年传播。因此，该地区迫切需要采取控制措施以减轻疾病负担。
