Malaria incidence in children in South-West Burkina Faso: comparison of active and passive case detection methods.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and seasonal pattern of malaria in children in South-West Burkina Faso, and to compare, in a randomized trial, characteristics of cases detected by active and passive surveillance. This study also enabled the planning of a malaria vaccine trial.

Methods: Households with young children, located within 5 kilometers of a health facility, were randomized to one of two malaria surveillance methods.