Open Journal of Pediatrics | 2021
Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Severe Childhood Malaria at the University Hospital of Brazzaville
Abstract
Introduction: Malaria management has been a source of concern for health systems since \nthe advent of the Covid-19 pandemic. Objective: To assess the impact of the \nCovid-19 pandemic on severe childhood malaria in Brazzaville. Material and Method: A quasi-experimental intervention/non-intervention study was carried out between \nMarch and October 2020 in the pediatric departments of the Brazzaville University \nHospital. Children aged three months to 15 years hospitalized were the target population. \nTwo groups were formed: the “intervention” group, that of children hospitalized \nbetween March and October 2020 and the “control” group that of those hospitalized between January and August 2015. The study \nvariables were epidemiological, clinical, biological and therapeutic. Chi-square \nand T-Student tests were used. The impact of the intervention was assessed by the \nabsolute risk difference. Results: Of 1392 children hospitalized, 199 (14.6%) \nhad severe malaria with an average age of 6.94 years. These were children under \n5 years old n = 95 (47.7%) of low socioeconomic level n = 145 (72.9%) seen on average \nafter 4.6 +/? 2.4 days. Repeated convulsions (56.8%) and anemia \n(20.1%) were the main reasons for hospitalization. These were isolated forms (n \n= 146; 73.4%) of which n = 84 (42.2%) neurological and n = 62 (31.2%) anemic. The \nlethality was 13.1%. Delayed consultation, fever, repeated convulsions, pallor, \nrespiratory distress, sickle cell anemia, thrombocytopenia and hypoglycemia are \nassociated with death. The risk difference for signs of severity between the two \nperiods was 16.6 for repeated convulsions; 14.3 for severe anemia. The relative \nrisk between the two studies was 1.8. Conclusion: The increase in morbidity \nand mortality in severe malaria since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic encourages \nthe maintenance of the balance between the management of the Covid-19 pandemic and \nthat of other worrying health problems.