Co-infection HBV and malaria: a striking association.

Background: Many geographical areas are highly endemic for infectious tropical diseases, although in disproportional fashion. Various infections often overlap in terms of presentation of various epidemiological and clinical manifestations that are linked to the mutual influence of pathogens. The epidemiological and clinical aspects of hepatitis B virus and malaria co-infection remain little known because there have not been many studies until recently.

Methods: We performed a systematic search of the epidemiology of HBV/malaria co-infection, in particular, their overlapping clinical and histological features and their reciprocal conditioning. We examined published data regarding HBV and malaria.

Results: The data we obtained varied substantially. The interaction between malarial parasites and HBV viruses, both in chronic HBV hepatitis patients and in carriers, did not vary or change the clinical evolution of either infection. The diversity of epidemiological and clinical results depended both on the geographical areas in which the studies were carried out and on the various stages of the infections at the time of the study.

Conclusion: Strategies to improve currently available diagnostic techniques, and studies dealing with vector control procedures and other operational tools and approaches are needed for better understanding of this health problem.