Plasmodium falciparum malariometric indices in Apac district, northern Uganda

Objective: To establish Plasmodium falciparum malariometric indices in a fi eld study site in Apac district, northern Uganda, Design: A community-based cross sectional survey. Settings: Atopi Parish, Apac district, Uganda, 1995, Subjects: One thousand two hundred and thirty four volunteers aged below on e and ninety years. Main outcome measures P.falciparum parasitaemia rates a nd parasite density, splenomegaly, bednet use and chloroquine consumption. Interventions: All subjects with P.falciparum positive smears were treated with chloroquine, Results: The population prevalence of parasitaemia was 62.1% with the predo minant species being P.falciparum(100 %)and P.malariae in the minority (3.5 %); P. ovale was not seen. The prevalence of parasitaemia in subjects olde r than 20 years and in those under ten years was 36% and 85%, respectively. The geometric mean parasite density started to decline by the age of six y ears. The splenomegaly rate in subjects over the age of 12 years and in tho se under nine years was 19.8% and 63.1 %,respectively, Bednet use and chlor oquine consumption was low. Interestingly, the reported use of chloroquine in the week immediately preceding the study was more frequent in children u nder two years old than in the rest of the population Conclusion: Malaria transmission in Atopi Parish in northern Uganda is hype rendemic and age-related acquired anti-parasite immunity seems to appear by seven years of age.