The Role of Malaria in Nutritional Anemias

Anemia is one of the most common manifestations of malaria. The causative mechanisms are multifactorial, and the severity of the anemia varies in relation to the level of malaria transmission in a population. The anemia of acute malaria in nonimmune individuals is usually normocytic and presents no special morphologic features; however, in malaria endemic areas subjects frequently have multiple pathology including iron and possibly folate deficiency. Interactions between nutritional factors and malaria infection in the causation of anemia are complex (1). In addition, the stability of malaria in an area influences the risk of developing anemia. In unstable malaria areas anemia occurs at all ages, whereas in stable areas anemia is most evident in young children and pregnant women. Where transmission is seasonal, marked changes in the prevalence of anemia may occur, especially in children (2).