Place of malaria among febrile affections at the Koulouba community health center from 2017 to 2018, in Mali

Abstract

Introduction: the various etiologies of febrile illnesses are difficult to distinguish clinically, for lack of means of diagnosis, most are attributed to malaria. This study aimed to review the status of malaria among the etiologies of febrile illnesses in the peri-urban area of Koulouba.
Method: We conducted an observational study with retrospective and prospective data collection. It was carried out at the Koulouba Community Health Center (CSCOM) over a period of 13 months. It concerned all patients seen in consultation from June 2018 to November 2019. The confidentiality and anonymity of the data were respected. Data entry and analysis were done using SPSS version 23 software.
Results: febrile illnesses represented 7.73% of consultations. Malaria was the leading cause of febrile illnesses, with a prevalence of 42% (281/676) and represented 3.21% of consultations, with peaks in October and November 2018. It was confirmed by microscopy in 52 39% (197/376) of cases and by Rapid Diagnostic Test in 29.08% (107/368). Non-malaria febrile illnesses accounted for 58%, i.e. a frequency of 7.73% for all consultations, the most frequent of which was acute respiratory infections, with peaks in December.
Conclusion: Malaria remains by far the first etiology of febrile affections in our first level health structures. The poor limited resource of diagnostic means remains a difficulty leading to an overestimation or a reduction in the prevalence of these conditions.