Evaluation of blood cell count parameters as predictors of treatment failure of malaria in Angola: An observational study.

Abstract

BackgroundDespite the guidelines provided by the World Health Organization for the treatment of malaria, treatment failure occurs in many hospitalized patients.ObjectiveEvaluate whether blood cell count parameters may serve as predictors for malaria treatment.MethodologyA cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach.ResultsOf the 219 patients, 21.5% showed failure to antimalarial treatment, Patient with 21 and 40 years (72.6%), male (53.4%), from peri-urban area (47.5%), with high parasitemia (59.8%), treated with Arthemeter (90.9%) and the mortality were 5.9%. Significant associations were observed between occupation, level of parasitemia and outcome with resistance to antimalarial treatment (pConclusionThe importance of blood cell count parameters in monitoring malaria therapy necessitates the urgent need to re-evaluate Artemether-based therapy. Future studies involving more participants in different settings are needed to provide further evidence.