Iron Status Predicts Malaria Risk in Malawian Preschool Children

Abstract

The overall incidence of malaria parasitemia and clinical malaria was 1.9 (95% CI 1.8-2.0) and 0.7 (95% CI 0.6-0.8) events per person-year, respectively. Children with iron deficiency at baseline had a lower incidence of malaria parasitemia and clinical malaria during a year of follow-up; adjusted hazard ratio's 0.55 (95%-CI:0.41-0.74) and 0.49 (95%-CI:0.33-0.73), respectively. Our results suggest that iron deficiency protects against malaria parasitemia and clinical malaria in young children. Therefore the clinical importance of treating iron deficiency in a pre-school child should be weighed carefully against potential harms. In malaria endemic areas treatment of iron deficiency in children requires sustained prevention of malaria.