Abstract
A total of 1622 individuals of all ages living under conditions of continuous malarial transmission in Liberia were enrolled in a cross-sectional study of parasite rates, positive parasite densities, and body temperatures. The age-specific Plasmodium falciparum-positive parasite densities were greatest at ages 0.5-1.0 year, then slowly declined into adulthood. The age-specific mean body temperature at parasite isodensity showed a steady decline even in the oldest age group. The results do not support the hypothesis that adults have higher body temperatures at a given parasite density than do children with the same parasite density. The age-specific P. falciparum parasite density for specific isotemperatures showed that a subgroup of children in the age group 0.5-1.0 year had low temperatures (less than 36.5 degrees C) despite high parasite densities. This indicates that low body temperature should be investigated further as a possible indicator of serious malaria in young children. Parasitologic and clinical immunity develops concomitantly and cannot be separated. The findings do not support the hypothesis that a special "anti-disease" immunity exists independently of parasitologic immunity.
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Tidsskrift | The Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| Vol/bind | 164 |
| Udgave nummer | 5 |
| Sider (fra-til) | 949-53 |
| Antal sider | 5 |
| ISSN | 0022-1899 |
| Status | Udgivet - nov. 1991 |
FN’s Verdensmål
Dette resultat bidrager til følgende verdensmål
