[Epidemiologic study of malaria in the Koza region (North Cameroon)]. / Etude épidémiologique du paludisme dans la région de Koza (Nord Cameroun).

ABSTRACT

The data obtained in the survey carried out in the villages of the Mandara mountains are as follows. P. falciparum is the only species of Plasmodium which has been found in the area. The parasitic rate in children 2 to 9 years of age is 40.8 p. 100 and the spleen rate 35.6 p. 100. The immunofluorescent test performed with an homologous P. falciparum antigen is positive in 37.7 p. 100 of the children of this class of age. The thick drop shows parasites in 25 p. 100 of the newborn children. The parasitic load rated by number of blood cells harboring parasites is high in young children, then diminishing in adults while the antibodies increased. Malaria cases are more numerous at the end of the rainy season but a new spell of the disease is also noticed at the beginning of the year while the outside temperature is especially high. Malaria, now mesoendemic in the study area, seems to decrease as far as parasite and spleen rates are concerned in comparison with the rates obtained in the Mandara mountains 20 years ago. This seems to be a consequence of an increase in the intake of chloroquine by the inhabitants.