Malaria Prevalence, Clinical Presentation, and Management Practices among Under-Five Children in ESUTH, Parklane

Background: Malaria remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children under five years in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Nigeria. Despite ongoing control efforts, the burden remains high, necessitating continuous evaluation of disease patterns and management practices.
Aim: This study aimed to assess the prevalence, clinical presentation, and management practices of malaria among under-five children in ESUTH, Parklane.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), Parklane, among 150 children aged 0–59 months with laboratory-confirmed malaria. Data were obtained through structured questionnaires and medical record review and analysed using SPSS version 25.0.
Results: The prevalence of malaria was 74.7%, with the highest burden observed among children aged 12–35 months (80.9%). Fever was present in all cases (100%), while other common symptoms included vomiting (69.6%), cough (64.3%), and diarrhoea (53.6%). Severe malaria accounted for 25.0% of cases, with manifestations such as convulsions and prostration. The mean packed cell volume was 27.8 ± 6.5%, indicating a high prevalence of anaemia. Microscopy was the most frequently used diagnostic method (58.7%), followed by rapid diagnostic tests (41.3%). Artemisinin-based combination therapy was the predominant treatment (73.3%), with injectable artesunate used in severe cases. Overall, 85.3% of patients recovered, although a minority experienced complications or required referral.
Conclusion: Malaria remains highly prevalent among under-five children in this setting, with significant clinical and haematological consequences. Strengthening preventive strategies, improving early diagnosis, and ensuring prompt treatment are critical to reducing disease burden and improving outcomes.

Under-five children; Clinical presentation

1. World Health Organization. World malaria report 2024. Geneva: WHO; 2024. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. World Health Organization. Guidelines for malaria. Geneva: WHO; 2023. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Doolan DL, Dobano C, Baird JK. Acquired immunity to malaria. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2009;22(1):13–36. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. WHO Regional Office for Africa. Nigeria malaria profile. 2024. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), National Population Commission (NPC), ICF. Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey 2021. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Uzochukwu BS, et al. Treatment practices for malaria in Nigeria. Malar J. 2018;17:461. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. World Health Organization. World malaria report 2020. Geneva: WHO; 2020. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Severe Malaria Observatory. Nigeria country profile. 2024. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria. National Malaria Strategic Plan 2021–2025. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Oguonu T, et al. Challenges in pediatric malaria management. Niger J Clin Pract. 2014. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Nwele DE, et al. Malaria prevalence in Southeast Nigeria. BMC Public Health. 2022. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), National Population Commission (NPC), National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), ICF. Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey 2021. Abuja, Nigeria; 2022. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. World Health Organization. World malaria report 2023. Geneva: WHO; 2023. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. World Health Organization. Malaria fact sheet. Geneva: WHO; 2025. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Ranjha R, et al. Age-related vulnerability to malaria in children under five years. Infect Dis Epidemiol. 2023;8(2):101–109. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Adeleke TO, et al. Determinants of malaria infection among under-five children in Nigeria. BMC Public Health. 2024;24:1135. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Isiko I, et al. Clinical presentation and outcomes of malaria in children. Trop Med Int Health. 2024;29(3):245–253. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Shekarau E, et al. Severe malaria burden among children in sub-Saharan Africa. Malar J. 2024;23:211. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Mhelembe T, et al. Malaria and anaemia among under-five children. Front Public Health. 2025;13:1503884. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Bayode T, et al. Effectiveness of ACT in malaria management in Nigeria. Sci Rep. 2024;14:55003. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Migrant Health in Morocco: Between Law and Reality
• CaknaMinda: An Educator-Centred Mobile App for Early Screening of Mental Health and Schizophrenia Risks
• Health System and Nursing Strategies for Enhancing Male Participation in Family Planning: Evidence from Tema General Hospital, Ghana.
• From Īśvara-Praṇidhāna to Parā-Bhakti: Convergent Paths of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga and Bhakti Yoga
• Evidence-Based Psycho-Oncological Interventions: A Multimodal Approach to Supportive Care