Severe anemia in Papua New Guinean children from a malaria-endemic area: a case-control etiologic study.

Abstract

BackgroundThere are few detailed etiologic studies of severe anemia in children from malaria-endemic areas and none in those countries with holoendemic transmission of multiple Plasmodium species.Methodology/principal findingsWe examined associates of severe anemia in 143 well-characterized Papua New Guinean (PNG) children aged 0.5-10 years with hemoglobin concentration Conclusions/significanceThese data show that severe anemia is multifactorial in PNG children, strongly associated with under-nutrition and certain common infections, and potentially preventable through vitamin A supplementation and improved nutrition, completion of vaccination schedules, and intermittent preventive antimalarial treatment using non-chloroquine/amodiaquine-based regimens.