Clinical-epidemiological aspects of severe malaria in patients at the Municipal Hospital of Cuimba, Angola

Abstract

Introduction: Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for more than 90 % of malaria worldwide.

Objective: characterization of Clinical-epidemiological aspects of severe malaria in patients treated at the Municipal Hospital of Cuimba, Zaire, Angola.

Method: an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional and retrospective study was conducted, during the period January - June 2023, in patients reported with severe malaria. The study involved a total of 452 patients with positive malaria but only 97 of them, who presented a complication of severe malaria, were selected as sample. The variables used were as follow: severe anemia, convulsions, hyperparasitemia, among others.

Results: male sex was predominant, with an average age of 14.8% and 43.3% of patients under five years of age. Plasmodium falciparum was found in 59 patients (60.8%) with a high parasitaemia prevalence. Manifestations of cerebral dysfunction in association with severe anemia were found in the clinical picture of 31% of patients. The 40.2% of patients had no complications in admission period. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome was the most frequent complication (18.6%), and it was the leading cause of death in 12.4% of patients. Artesunate was used in 77.3% of patients.

Conclusions: malaria is a health problem in Municipal Hospital of Cuimba, with a higher incidence in children under five years of age; Plasmodium falciparum infection prevailed in patients with severe anemia.