TY - JOUR AU - Tan, Suriyani AU - Supali, Taniawati AU - Wibowo, Heri PY - 2013/08/14 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Plasmodium falciparum infection and the risk of anemia in school children JF - Universa Medicina JA - Univ Med VL - 32 IS - 2 SE - Review Article DO - 10.18051/UnivMed.2013.v32.128-134 UR - https://univmed.org/ejurnal/index.php/medicina/article/view/79 SP - 128-134 AB - <p>BACKGROUND<br />According to the World Health Organization, malaria is the major cause of death from tropical infections in children and pregnant women. Severe anemia is a common complication of malaria, particularly malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum. The purpose of the present study was to determine any association between Plasmodium falciparum infection and anemia in school children.<br />METHODS<br />This was an observational study with cross-sectional approach. A total of 540 whole blood samples of school children after administration of anthelminthic treatment for 30 days, were collected for measurement of hemoglobin concentration and preparation of Giemsa-stained thin and thick blood smears.<br />The species of Plasmodium was confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Chi-square and prevalence ratio (PR) tests were used to determine the relationship between Plasmodium falciparum infection and anemia.<br />RESULTS<br />The prevalence of Plasmodium infection in school children of malarial endemic areas was 3.51%. There were 43 cases of anemia with 41 cases of mild anemia and 2 cases of moderate anemia. Among the 41 mild cases of anemia,<br />Plasmodium falciparum infection was found in only 3 cases. The 2 cases of moderate anemia and the remaining 38 cases of mild anemia were not caused by Plasmodium falciparum infection. Subjects with Plasmodium falciparum infection had a 1.91-fold higher risk of suffering from anemia than subjects<br />without Plasmodium falciparum infection, but not significant (PR=1.91; 95% C.I.=0.65-5.62).<br />CONCLUSIONS<br />Plasmodium falciparum infection did not significantly increase the risk of anemia in school children. Efforts to improve strategies for controlling anemia and malaria are needed.</p> ER -