27 Clinical and laboratory.pmd

1National Malaria Control Programme, Khartoum, Sudan (Correspondence to E.M. Malik: [email protected]). Singa Teaching Hospital, Singar, Sinnar State, Sudan. 3University of Juba, Juba, Sudan. ABSTRACT A cross-sectional study explored the clinical and laboratory aspects of malaria among children presenting with fever to 2 paediatric hospitals in Khartoum state during the low transmission season. Out of 655 febrile patients, 35.9% were recorded as having malaria based on hospital laboratory results. However, re-examination of slides at the National Malaria Control Programme referral laboratory confirmed malaria in only 32.8% of those diagnosed with malaria at hospital level. Analysis of symptoms and signs revealed great variability in clinical presentation. Although some findings were associated with malaria, developing a sensitive clinical algorithm was difficult. Further investment is needed to improve microscopic diagnosis facilities in local hospitals to overcome the problem of over-diagnosis of malaria.