Malaria and Typhoid Fever Coinfection Among Febrile Patients Attending a Health Facility in Yaoundé, Cameroon: A Cross-Sectional Study.
| Title: | Malaria and Typhoid Fever Coinfection Among Febrile Patients Attending a Health Facility in Yaoundé, Cameroon: A Cross-Sectional Study. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Netongo PM; Molecular Diagnostics Research Group, Biotechnology Centre, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.; Department of Biochemistry, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.; School of Science, Navajo Technical University, Crownpoint, New Mexico, USA.; Laboratory for Public Health Research Biotechnologies, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.; Tchoutang AM; Molecular Diagnostics Research Group, Biotechnology Centre, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.; Department of Biochemistry, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.; Laboratory for Public Health Research Biotechnologies, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.; Eric MB; Molecular Diagnostics Research Group, Biotechnology Centre, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.; Department of Biochemistry, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.; Laboratory for Public Health Research Biotechnologies, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.; Tepa A; Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.; Center for Research on Infectious Diseases (CRID), Yaoundé, Cameroon.; Nzuno MC; Molecular Diagnostics Research Group, Biotechnology Centre, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.; Kamdem SD; Molecular Diagnostics Research Group, Biotechnology Centre, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.; School of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Central Africa, Yaoundé, Cameroon. |
| Source: | Journal of parasitology research [J Parasitol Res] 2025 Nov 12; Vol. 2025, pp. 9977704. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Nov 12 (Print Publication: 2025). |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: Wiley Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101526294 Publication Model: eCollection Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 2090-0023 (Print) Linking ISSN: 20900023 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Parasitol Res Subsets: PubMed not MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: 2023- : [Hoboken, NJ] : Wiley; Original Publication: New York : Hindawi Pub. Corp., 2009- |
| Abstract: | Background: Malaria and typhoid fever are significant public health challenges in tropical regions, with Cameroon serving as a notable example of their endemicity. This study is aimed at determining the prevalence of malaria, typhoid fever, and their coinfection and assessing associated risk factors among febrile patients attending a tertiary hospital.; Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted between June and August 2023 at the Etoug-Ebe Baptist Hospital in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Two hundred and eighty-eight febrile patients aged over 2 years, suspected of having malaria and/or typhoid fever, were enrolled after obtaining informed consent from adults or a legal representative for minors. Data were collected using a structured case report form (CRF). Malaria diagnosis involved a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for screening, followed by confirmation with thick blood smear microscopy. For typhoid fever diagnosis, a combination of serological testing (Widal and IgM/IgG rapid tests) and rapid stool antigen detection (for Salmonella O and H antigens) was used. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS Version 26 and GraphPad Prism Version 9 software.; Results: Out of the 288 participants, 179 (62.5%) tested positive for malaria and/or typhoid fever. According to our diagnostic algorithm, the prevalence rates for malaria, typhoid fever, and coinfection were 44.79% (n = 129), 37.15% (n = 107), and 19.79% (n = 57), respectively. Coinfection was significantly associated with fever (χ 2 = 7.092, p = 0.008) and profuse sweating (χ 2 = 3.774, p = 0.05), while jaundice was linked to typhoid fever (χ 2 = 4.777, p = 0.029). Notable risk factors for malaria and typhoid fever included the presence of ponds of water and/or clumps of grass around the house and the main source of drinking water.; Conclusion: Malaria and typhoid fever were prevalent among febrile patients in Yaoundé, with malaria emerging as the leading cause and notable levels of coinfection. Clinical symptoms and environmental risk factors were associated with disease occurrence, underscoring the need for strengthened control strategies.; (Copyright © 2025 Palmer Masumbe Netongo et al. Journal of Parasitology Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.) |
| Competing Interests: | The authors declare no conflicts of interest. |
| References: | Lancet. 2015 Mar 21;385(9973):1136-45. (PMID: 25458731); BMC Infect Dis. 2010 Jun 22;10:180. (PMID: 20565990); N Engl J Med. 2002 Nov 28;347(22):1770-82. (PMID: 12456854); Parasite. 2020;27:10. (PMID: 32048986); BMC Med. 2020 Jul 30;18(1):239. (PMID: 32727467); Ann Afr Med. 2010 Jul-Sep;9(3):135-40. (PMID: 20710103); J Parasitol Res. 2023 Sep 25;2023:5334813. (PMID: 37790287); PLoS One. 2023 May 25;18(5):e0267528. (PMID: 37228010); Clin Infect Dis. 2018 Jun 1;66(12):1838-1845. (PMID: 29408951); Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2020 Jun 30;10:328. (PMID: 32714882); BMC Infect Dis. 2016 Nov 8;16(1):658. (PMID: 27825318); BMC Res Notes. 2014 Sep 17;7:653. (PMID: 25231649); East Afr Health Res J. 2018;2(2):147-155. (PMID: 34308186); J Vector Borne Dis. 2008 Jun;45(2):133-42. (PMID: 18592842); Adv Med. 2014;2014:531074. (PMID: 26556415); Cell Host Microbe. 2017 Aug 9;22(2):232-245. (PMID: 28799908); BMC Infect Dis. 2019 Mar 27;19(1):288. (PMID: 30917795); Afr J Infect Dis. 2017 Nov 15;12(1):33-38. (PMID: 29302648); Malar J. 2012 Jun 24;11:215. (PMID: 22727184); Trop Med Int Health. 2003 Jun;8(6):575-8. (PMID: 12791064); Vaccine. 2019 Jan 7;37(2):214-216. (PMID: 29661581); J Trop Med. 2022 Aug 1;2022:2165980. (PMID: 37383527) |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Cameroon; malaria; prevalence; risk factors; typhoid fever |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20251121 Date Completed: 20251121 Latest Revision: 20251123 |
| Update Code: | 20260130 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC12629701 |
| DOI: | 10.1155/japr/9977704 |
| PMID: | 41267674 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Journal Article