Improved malaria diagnosis potentially achievable through the use of basic blood tests in research settings.
In a pioneering development, researchers have developed a statistical model to enhance the diagnosis of severe malaria in children, particularly in Africa where the disease claims the lives of around 400,000 children each year. The model, which has been published in the prestigious journal eLife, was developed by a team of researchers associated with a research institution in Kenya. Although the specific names of the authors and the exact Kenyan research institution are not identified in the provided search results, the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) is believed to be involved. The model relies on platelet and white blood cell counts, which are easily obtainable through simple blood tests. According to the study, approximately one-third of the children diagnosed with severe malaria in a large Kenyan cohort were found to be misdiagnosed, highlighting the need for a more accurate diagnostic tool. Misdiagnosis can delay life-saving antibiotic care and skew the results of studies of new treatments for malaria. The discovery could help expedite research for better ways to treat severe malaria. John Bleho, the Media and Communications contact at MORU, can be reached at [email protected] and +90 537 567 8460. Emily Packer, the Media Relations Manager at eLife, can be contacted at [email protected] and +44 (0)1223 855373. The study published in eLife suggests that people with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency probably have some protection from malaria, a benefit that was likely obscured in previous studies by the high rate of misdiagnoses. The team hopes their new model can be used by other scientists and clinicians to improve the accuracy of diagnosis in children suspected of having severe malaria. eLife is a non-profit organization that aims to accelerate discovery by operating a platform for research communication that encourages responsible behaviors. The organization receives financial support and strategic guidance from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the Max Planck Society, and Wellcome. To read the latest Epidemiology and Global Health research published in eLife, visit this link. To read the latest Genetics and Genomics research published in eLife, visit this link. The Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) is a research collaboration between Mahidol University (Thailand) and the University of Oxford and Wellcome (UK). Diagnosing severe malaria in children in Africa is challenging due to the presence of malaria parasites in both healthy and severely ill children. Many children diagnosed with severe malaria may have other life-threatening infections. The researchers hope that their new model can help address these challenges and improve the accuracy of diagnosis, ultimately leading to better treatment outcomes for children suffering from severe malaria.
