Malaria impact on cognitive function of children in a peri-urban community in the Brazilian Amazon

• Published in: Malaria Journal
• Main Authors: Raquel Tapajós, Daniel Castro, Gisely Melo, Seyi Balogun, Mark James, Rockson Pessoa, Anne Almeida, Mônica Costa, Rosemary Pinto, Bernardino Albuquerque, Wuelton Monteiro, José Braga, Marcus Lacerda, Maria Paula Mourão
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2019
• Subjects: Malaria; Plasmodium vivax; Cognition; Children; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-019-2802-2; https://doaj.org/article/32ea0ab038154c5198428bcf4a1dcf7d

Abstract Background In Latin America, where Plasmodium vivax malaria is more prevalent, it is known that this species plays an important role in the sustainability of transmission, and can have an impact on morbidity in terms of anaemia, nutritional status, and cognitive development in children. Methods The present study aimed to assess the impact of malaria infection on cognition of children in a peri-urban community in the Brazilian Amazon with moderate endemicity by applying Home Inventory and WPPSI-IV. A non-concurrent cohort study was designed and the cognitive, haematological, and nutritional profiles of the children were assessed. Children with documented malaria history were identified from official reported data. Results A total of 219 children aged between 2 and 7 years were enrolled. Although 205 (95%) children had normal birth weight, 177 (81%) were malnourished, and 35 (16%) had anaemia. Among the 100 (46%) children who experienced at least one episode of malaria, 89 (89%) children demonstrated low level of cognitive development. The findings showed that Plasmodium vivax malaria was an independent risk factor for low cognitive development. Conclusions In addition to the known economic impact of malaria in the Amazon region, the study highlights the deleterious effects P. vivax malaria has on the socio-cultural development of the population.