Relative Contribution of Schistosomiasis and Malaria to Anemia in Western Kenya

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2018 Sep;99(3):713-715. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.18-0069. Epub 2018 Jul 5.

Abstract

Because anemia is one of the markers of morbidity associated with schistosomiasis, it has been proposed as a potential measure to evaluate the impact of control programs. However, anemia is also a common consequence of malaria, and schistosomiasis and malaria are often co-endemic. To estimate the attributable fraction of anemia due to Schistosoma mansoni and Plasmodium falciparum infections, we applied a log-binomial model to four studies measuring these parameters of a combined 5,849 children in western Kenya. In our studies, malaria contributed 23.3%, schistosomiasis contributed 6.6%, and co-infection contributed 27.6% of the anemia. We conclude that in areas where S. mansoni and P. falciparum are co-endemic, the contribution of schistosomiasis to anemia is masked by anemia resulting from malaria, thus limiting anemia as a useful measure for schistosomiasis control programs in these settings.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anemia / epidemiology
  • Anemia / etiology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Coinfection / complications*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Kenya / epidemiology
  • Malaria, Falciparum / complications*
  • Malaria, Falciparum / epidemiology
  • Models, Biological
  • Risk Factors
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / complications*
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / epidemiology