NO INFLUENCE OF SOCIOECONOMIC-FACTORS ON SEVERE MALARIAL ANEMIA, HYPERPARASITEMIA OR REINFECTION

Malaria is responsible for nearly 500 million clinical cases per year, only a small proportion of whom will become severely ill. Socioeconom ic risk factors may play a role in the development of severe malaria i n African children and in their susceptibility to reinfection. In Gabo n, 100 children suffering from severe malaria, defined as hyperparasit aemia and/or severe anaemia, were matched for sex, age and provenance to 100 children with mild malaria. Socioeconomic factors were assessed using a standard questionnaire and compared between the 2 groups. The children were followed-up and the time to first reinfection was recor ded. No significant influence of socioeconomic factors could be detect ed on the severity of disease or the time to first reinfection. Socioe conomic factors are not major determinants of severe malarial anaemia and hyperparasitaemia in children in Gabon.