Co-Existence of Urinary Tract Infection and Malaria Among children Under Five Years: A Case of Muhimbili National Hospital Dar es Salaam,Tanzania.

Across tropical Africa, febrile children are treated for malaria either with or without confirmation thus resulting in failure to diagnose and treat other co-morbidities like urinary tract infections (UTI) and upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) that may coexist with malaria. This cross-sectional study examined coexisting malaria with UTI and further assessed the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of the isolated organisms among children aged less than 5 years presenting with fever and malaria. Thick and thin blood films were used for the diagnosis of malaria and urine samples were collected in sterile, widescrewed-mouth, leak proof containers for culture and sensitivity. Organisms isolated were identified and tested for their antimicrobial sensitivity patterns using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Prevalence of malaria with coexisting UTI was 3.3% with majority (58.0%) of the participants being female. Age was associated with malaria and UTI co infection prevalence of co-infection being 24-36 age group. Escherichia coli (50%) Staphylococcus aureus (25%),Klebsiella species(16.70%) and Proteus species (8.3%) were isolated.Coinfection of malaria and UTI was present in febrile children under five years in Muhimbili National Hospital. Non detection implies that such hidden morbidity would be untreated. Health care personnel should rule out UTI when managing febrile children less than five years with malaria.

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

masters

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

The Open University of Tanzania

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Ntukula, Albert Clement

• 570 Life sciences

Language dc:language

en