Parasite Burden Alone Does Not Explain Severe Malaria

More than half of first episodes of severe falciparum malaria followed one or more previous infections; most high-density infections were not severe.

The mechanism of protective immunity in falciparum malaria is unknown. To better understand factors associated with severe malaria, investigators conducted a longitudinal study in northeastern Tanzania in which they followed children born between September 2002 and November 2005 for an average of 2 years. Malaria transmission during the study period was intense, with an estimated 400 infective mosquito bites per person annually. Children were examined at birth, every 2 weeks during infancy, monthly after infancy, and during any illness.

Among the 882 infants enrolled, 62.7% slept under bed nets; the prevalence of sickle cell trait was 16.5%. During the study, 715 (81.1%) of the children had at least one malaria infection; 102 (11.6%) had sev…

Reviewing Author

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Parasite Burden Alone Does Not Explain Severe Malaria

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Reviewing Author