Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

In patients with malaria, parasitaemia is usually estimated by assuming 8000 white cell counts (WCC) per microlitre of blood. In a sample of 3044 African children under 5 years of age with uncomplicated falciparum malaria, parasitaemia estimated using standardised WCC was compared to parasitaemia calculated based on each child's own WCC. The two methods produced comparable results. However, WCC were >8000 in under-fives with an inverse relationship with age, resulting in the standard approximation method significantly underestimating parasitaemia in the youngest age group and overestimating parasitaemia in the oldest age groups.

Original publication

DOI

10.1111/j.1365-3156.2011.02738.x

Type

Journal article

Journal

Tropical medicine & international health : TM & IH

Publication Date

05/2011

Volume

16

Pages

551 - 554

Addresses

UNICEF/UNDP/WB/WHO Special Programme for Research & Training in Tropical Diseases, Geneva, Switzerland. olliarop@who.int

Keywords

Animals, Humans, Plasmodium falciparum, Parasitemia, Malaria, Falciparum, Leukocyte Count, Age Factors, Aging, Reference Values, Child, Preschool, Infant, Infant, Newborn