Z. Premji et al., ANEMIA AND PLASMODIUM-FALCIPARUM INFECTIONS AMONG YOUNG-CHILDREN IN AN HOLOENDEMIC AREA, BAGAMOYO, TANZANIA, Acta Tropica, 59(1), 1995, pp. 55-64
Although the aetiology of anaemia in tropical areas is multifactorial,
Plasmodium falciparum malaria is commonly associated with anaemia in
children living in holoendemic malaria areas. Such an association was
examined in a population based study of 338 children 6 to 40 months of
age living in the Bagamoyo area of Tanzania. Stepwise regression anal
ysis showed that fever and parasitaemia were effective in predicting a
naemia and that the anaemic condition was age dependent. The majority
of the children were iron deficient, followed by normochromic macrocyt
ic anaemias. There was strong evidence in this age group that the anae
mia was associated with malaria and not geohelminth infection. The imp
ortance of malaria and anaemia as a cause of childhood morbidity in Af
rica is discussed. This condition has taken on new significance with t
he realization that blood transfusions commonly used to treat severe a
naemia are a major vehicle for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) tran
smission.