Clinical presentation of malaria in Ghana.

Abstract

Despite all attempts at control or eradication, malaria continues to affect an estimated 200 million people world wide, accounting for about 10% of all deaths in children under three 'years of age in 'Some parts of Africa. Though some variations exist in the malaria produced by the different plasmodia; in all of them chills, fever, headache, muscle pains, splenomegaly and anaemia are common. Herpes labialis is frequent in well established infections while hepatomegaly. mild icterus and oedema are often observed, especially in falciparum malaria. This discussion will be restricted to the clinical presentations of the more dangerous falciparum malaria which accounts for over 90% of malaria cases in West Africa.