Epidemiological, Clinical and Paraclinical Profile of Paediatric Malaria at University Hospital Centre Amissa Bongo in Franceville, Gabon

Malaria remains the deadliest parasitic disease and continues to cause more than half a million deaths across the world each year, mainly victims are sub-Saharan children. Malaria is a common reason for paediatric hospitalisation. The objective was to characterise malaria and describe the evolution after treatment in the paediatric department of the University Hospital Centre Amissa Bongo de Franceville. This was a cross-sectional study conducted from 1 February 2023 to 15 May 2023. A clinical and biological diagnosis was made in febrile children aged from 6 months to 15 years. A total of 306 patients were included. The mean age was 50.4 ± 44.3 months, 94.3% had consulted within ≥48 h and self-medication was practiced by 83.3%. The prevalence of malaria was 17.3%. Fever ˃39°8C (adjusted odds ratios [aOR] = 2.68; 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.32-5.48]; P < 0.01), chills (aOR = 2.14; 95% CI = [1.13-4.11]; P < 0.01) and nausea-vomiting (aOR = 2.03; 95% CI = [1.06-3.83]; P = 0.03) were the factors associated with the occurrence of malaria. The majority of children were treated for simple malaria with artemisinin-based combination therapy. A total of 16/53 was seen in post-therapeutic consultation. Of them, 2 patients had a positive thick drop. Non-compliance with preventive measures and the misuse of antimalarials further complicate the clinical picture, requiring parenteral management for the most part.