Asymptomatic Malaria and Helminths Coinfection and Its Association with Anemia Among Primary School Children in Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Overview

Journal J Trop Med

Publisher Wiley

Specialty Tropical Medicine

Date 2021 Sep 23

PMID 34552634

Citations 3

Authors

Feven Wudneh

Yabibal Gebeyehu

Sara Anberbir

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Asymptomatic malaria and helminths coinfection occurs mainly in the tropics and subtropics where poverty and sanitary practice favor its high prevalence. In the tropics, where malaria is endemic, helminths also thrive resulting in coinfection. This study aimed to access the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria and helminths coinfection and its contribution for anemia in primary school children of Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia. . This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 413 primary school children from February to April 2020. Finger-prick blood samples were used to determine asymptomatic malaria and hemoglobin concentrations. Stool samples were collected and processed through formalin-ether concentration techniques to detect the presence of intestinal helminths. Data were double entered into Epi Data version 3.1 software and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Pearson's chi-square and correlation analysis were performed as part of the statistical analyses.

Result: A total of 413 primary school children aged 6 to 16 years (mean age ± SD: 10.7 ± 2.64years) were enrolled in the study. 159 (38.5%) of school children were infected with at least one of the parasitic diseases. The overall prevalence of asymptomatic malaria and intestinal helminths was 46 (11.1%) and 113 (27.3%) respectively. Asymptomatic malaria and helminths coinfection was 29 (7%). Total of 39.1% of asymptomatic malaria-infected school children were anemic, which is statistically significant ( < 0.05). 15.9% of helminths-infected school children were anemic, not statistically significant ( > 0.05). The prevalence of anemia was 12 (41.3%) among coinfected students, which is statistically significant ( < 0.005).

Conclusion: Asymptomatic malaria and helminths coinfection affects the health status of considerable number of primary school children in the study area. Therefore, simultaneous combat against the two parasitic infections is crucial to improve health of the school children.

Citing Articles

The Burden of Asymptomatic Malaria Infection in Children in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Exploring Barriers to Elimination and Prevention.

Asmelash D, Agegnehu W, Fenta W, Asmelash Y, Debebe S, Asres A J Epidemiol Glob Health. 2025; 15(1):17.

PMID: 39909968 PMC: 11799456. DOI: 10.1007/s44197-025-00365-2.

Asymptomatic Malaria Infection and Hidden Parasitic Burden in Gabonese Schoolchildren: Unveiling Silent Co-Infections in Rural and Urban Settings.

Makouloutou-Nzassi P, Kouna L, Mbani Mpega Ntigui C, Longo-Pendy N, Bourobou Bourobou J, Bangueboussa F Trop Med Infect Dis. 2025; 10(1).

PMID: 39852662 PMC: 11769548. DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed10010011.

Breath Biomarkers of Pediatric Malaria: Reproducibility and Response to Antimalarial Therapy.

Berna A, Wang X, Bollinger L, Banda J, Mawindo P, Evanoff T J Infect Dis. 2024; 230(4):1013-1022.

PMID: 38885291 PMC: 11481311. DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiae323.

Incidence of Helminthic and Viral Coinfections in Malaria Patients in the Tertiary Care Hospital Setup.

Mubaraki M, Hussain M, Fozia F, Ahmad I, Khan S, Khan A J Trop Med. 2024; 2024:8529788.

PMID: 38576602 PMC: 10994705. DOI: 10.1155/2024/8529788.

Asymptomatic Infection and Associated Factors in Selected Districts of the Kaffa Zone, Southwest Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Duguma T, Tekalign E, Abera M J Trop Med. 2023; 2023:4144834.

PMID: 37091858 PMC: 10118875. DOI: 10.1155/2023/4144834.

References

Erko B, Medhin G . Human helminthiasis in Wondo Genet, southern Ethiopia, with emphasis on geohelminthiasis. Ethiop Med J. 2004; 41(4):333-44. View

Turner J, Faulkner H, Kamgno J, Cormont F, Van Snick J, Else K . Th2 cytokines are associated with reduced worm burdens in a human intestinal helminth infection. J Infect Dis. 2003; 188(11):1768-75. DOI: 10.1086/379370. View

Ngasala B, Matata F, Mwaiswelo R, Mmbando B . Anemia among Schoolchildren with Malaria and Soil-Transmitted Helminth Coinfections after Repeated Rounds of Mass Drug Administration in Muheza District, Tanzania. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2019; 101(5):1148-1155. PMC: 6838562. DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.19-0362. View

Dada-Adegbola H, Oluwatoba O, Falade C . Asymptomatic malaria and intestinal helminth co-infection among children in a rural community in Southwest Nigeria. Malariaworld J. 2024; 4:18. PMC: 11138751. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10928310. View

Gashaw F, Aemero M, Legesse M, Petros B, Teklehaimanot T, Medhin G . Prevalence of intestinal helminth infection among school children in Maksegnit and Enfranz Towns, northwestern Ethiopia, with emphasis on Schistosoma mansoni infection. Parasit Vectors. 2015; 8:567. PMC: 4628278. DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-1178-6. View

Tuasha N, Hailemeskel E, Erko B, Petros B . Comorbidity of intestinal helminthiases among malaria outpatients of Wondo Genet health centers, southern Ethiopia: implications for integrated control. BMC Infect Dis. 2019; 19(1):659. PMC: 6657167. DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-4290-y. View

Garcia L, Arrowood M, Kokoskin E, Paltridge G, Pillai D, Procop G . Practical Guidance for Clinical Microbiology Laboratories: Laboratory Diagnosis of Parasites from the Gastrointestinal Tract. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2017; 31(1). PMC: 5740970. DOI: 10.1128/CMR.00025-17. View

Nacher M, Singhasivanon P, Traore B, Vannaphan S, Gay F, Chindanond D . Helminth infections are associated with protection from cerebral malaria and increased nitrogen derivatives concentrations in Thailand. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2002; 66(3):304-9. DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2002.66.304. View

Helmby H, Bickle Q . Immune modulation by helminth infections. Parasite Immunol. 2006; 28(10):479-81. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3024.2006.00912.x. View

10.

Odhiambo F, Buff A, Moranga C, Moseti C, Wesongah J, Lowther S . Factors associated with malaria microscopy diagnostic performance following a pilot quality-assurance programme in health facilities in malaria low-transmission areas of Kenya, 2014. Malar J. 2017; 16(1):371. PMC: 5598012. DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-2018-2. View

11.

Seguin P, Kleiber A, Chanavaz C, Morcet J, Malledant Y . Determination of capillary hemoglobin levels using the HemoCue system in intensive care patients. J Crit Care. 2010; 26(4):423-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2010.08.012. View

12.

Abbate J, Ezenwa V, Guegan J, Choisy M, Nacher M, Roche B . Disentangling complex parasite interactions: Protection against cerebral malaria by one helminth species is jeopardized by co-infection with another. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2018; 12(5):e0006483. PMC: 5963812. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006483. View

13.

Parker M, Han Z, Abu-Haydar E, Matsiko E, Iyakaremye D, Tuyisenge L . An evaluation of hemoglobin measurement tools and their accuracy and reliability when screening for child anemia in Rwanda: A randomized study. PLoS One. 2018; 13(1):e0187663. PMC: 5754049. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0187663. View

14.

Njua-Yafi C, Achidi E, Anchang-Kimbi J, Apinjoh T, Mugri R, Chi H . Malaria, helminths, co-infection and anaemia in a cohort of children from Mutengene, south western Cameroon. Malar J. 2016; 15:69. PMC: 4744422. DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1111-2. View

15.

Teshale T, Belay S, Tadesse D, Awala A, Teklay G . Prevalence of intestinal helminths and associated factors among school children of Medebay Zana wereda; North Western Tigray, Ethiopia 2017. BMC Res Notes. 2018; 11(1):444. PMC: 6033285. DOI: 10.1186/s13104-018-3556-6. View

16.

Chen I, Clarke S, Gosling R, Hamainza B, Killeen G, Magill A . "Asymptomatic" Malaria: A Chronic and Debilitating Infection That Should Be Treated. PLoS Med. 2016; 13(1):e1001942. PMC: 4718522. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001942. View

17.

Mamo H . Intestinal parasitic infections among prison inmates and tobacco farm workers in Shewa Robit, north-central Ethiopia. PLoS One. 2014; 9(6):e99559. PMC: 4057221. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0099559. View

18.

Alemu A, Shiferaw Y, Ambachew A, Hamid H . Malaria helminth co-infections and their contribution for aneamia in febrile patients attending Azzezo health center, Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross sectional study. Asian Pac J Trop Med. 2012; 5(10):803-9. DOI: 10.1016/S1995-7645(12)60147-3. View

19.

Degarege A, Animut A, Legesse M, Erko B . Malaria and helminth co-infections in outpatients of Alaba Kulito Health Center, southern Ethiopia: a cross sectional study. BMC Res Notes. 2010; 3:143. PMC: 2902494. DOI: 10.1186/1756-0500-3-143. View

20.

Ojurongbe O, Adegbayi A, Bolaji O, Akindele A, Adefioye O, Adeyeba O . Asymptomatic falciparum malaria and intestinal helminths co-infection among school children in Osogbo, Nigeria. J Res Med Sci. 2011; 16(5):680-6. PMC: 3214381. View