Publications by authors named "Maria V Marcano"
Article Synopsis
- Malaria is a significant global health issue, particularly in Venezuela, where co-infections with other viral and bacterial pathogens complicate malaria diagnosis and treatment, leading to higher mortality rates.
- A study was conducted on 161 malaria patients to assess the prevalence of co-infections with pathogens like dengue virus and hepatitis viruses, using specific laboratory tests for diagnosis.
- Results showed that 34% of the malaria patients had co-infections, with a higher incidence in those infected with the Plasmodium falciparum strain compared to Plasmodium vivax, highlighting the need for improved diagnostic methods in endemic areas.
Background: Venezuela accounted for 55% of the cases and 73% of the malaria deaths in the Americas in 2019. Bolivar state, in the southeast, contributes > 60% of the country's Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum cases every year. This study describes the clinical-epidemiological characteristics of clinical malaria patients in this high-transmission area.
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- - Pregnant women in southern Venezuela are at a high risk for malaria infections, particularly impacted by the low endemicity of both *Plasmodium falciparum* and *Plasmodium vivax*, but recent studies on malaria in pregnancy (MiP) are lacking in this region.
- - A study analyzing 52 pregnant women at a hospital showed that 71% were infected with *P. vivax*, with most infections occurring in the third trimester; complications were common, including severe anemia and fetal deaths.
- - The findings highlight the need for routine malaria testing and preventive measures, like distributing insecticide-treated mosquito nets, to improve maternal and fetal health in these vulnerable populations.