Abstract

Background: Pediatric febrile illnesses pose diagnostic challenges in low income countries.
Western Uganda is endemic for both Malaria and Typhoid but the true prevalence of each
individual disease, their co-infections and associated factors are poorly quantified.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of malaria, Typhoid, their co-infection and associated
factors amongst febrile children attending the paediatrics and child health department of Kampala
International University Teaching Hospital (KIU-TH) in Western Uganda.
Methods: Cross-sectional study used a survey questionnaire covering demographics, clinical and
behavioral variables. We obtained blood for peripheral films for malaria and cultures for Typhoid
respectively; from 108 consecutively consented participants. Ethical approval was obtained from
KIU-TH research and ethics committee (No. UG-REC-023/201834). Multivariate regression
analysis was performed using Stata 14.0 (StataCorp. 2015) at 95% confidence interval,
regarding p<0.05 as statistically significant.
Results: Majority of participants were males 62 % (n=67), cared for by their mothers 85.2%
(n=92). The prevalence of malaria was 25% (n=27). The prevalence of Typhoid was 3.7% (n=4)
of which 2.8% (n=3) had Malaria-Typhoid co-infection. Using treated water from protected
public taps was associated with low Malaria-Typhoid co-infection [p=0.04; aOR=0.05, 95%CI
[0.003-0.87], whereas drinking unboiled water from open wells increased the risk for the coinfection
[p=0.037, cOR=17, 95%CI (1.19-243.25)].
Conclusions: The prevalence of blood culture confirmed Malaria-Typhoid co-infection was
lower than previously reported in serological studies. Educational campaigns regarding use of
safe water, hygienic hand washing and proper waste disposal should target mothers who mainly
take care of these children