Pre-Hospital Use of Antimalarial Drug and Associated Factors among Children with Febrile Illnesses Presenting to a Tertiary Health Facility

Abstract

Background: Malaria is still a major public health problem in Nigeria and it is a leading cause of infant and childhood mortality. The initiation of treatment with antimalarial drug within 24 hours of fever onset at home and before presentation to the hospital is one of the recommended strategies to reduce mortality from malaria in sub-Saharan Africa.

Objective: To determine the pattern of use of antimalarial drug prior to hospital presentation among febrile children presenting to a tertiary health facility in southwestern Nigeria.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study. All consecutive febrile children who presented in the Children Emergency Room of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital during the study period were recruited. Data on socio-demographics, treatments given at home, history of present illness and outcome of blood smear testing for malaria parasite were collected and analysed.

Results: A total of 50 children aged one month to 13 years who had documented fever were studied. Three-quarters of the febrile children had duration of fever of more than one day (77.5%) and four-fifths had negative blood smear for malaria parasite (82.2%). Only four (8.0%) of the febrile children received antimalarial drug prior to hospital presentation. Twelve of the febrile children (24.0%) had a presenting temperature of ≥38.50C. All the four febrile children who received anti-malarial drug prior to hospital presentation had a negative blood smear for malaria parasite and duration of fever of greater than two days.

Conclusion: This study showed that pre-hospital home treatment with antimalarial drug was inappropriate among the enrollees. Health education on appropriate antimalarial drug use for febrile children should be intensified.