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Prof.Maitland raises very unique and practical issues. For us who
work in resource-constrained conditions malaria, helminthiasis and
bacterial infections often co-exist.For children under 5 years who have
signs of bacterial sepsis but lack microscopic evidence of malaria and
have not received anti-malarial treatment in the past month,we still treat
for malaria and routinely deworm. On the other hand, children under 5yr
with microscopic evidence of malaria and no sign of sepsis are still given
an oral broad penicillin based antibiotic and dewormed. This may lack
backing of evidence-based medicine but it reduces both duration of
hospital stay and revisits.
Malaria and sepsis in children
Prof.Maitland raises very unique and practical issues. For us who
work in resource-constrained conditions malaria, helminthiasis and
bacterial infections often co-exist.For children under 5 years who have
signs of bacterial sepsis but lack microscopic evidence of malaria and
have not received anti-malarial treatment in the past month,we still treat
for malaria and routinely deworm. On the other hand, children under 5yr
with microscopic evidence of malaria and no sign of sepsis are still given
an oral broad penicillin based antibiotic and dewormed. This may lack
backing of evidence-based medicine but it reduces both duration of
hospital stay and revisits.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests