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Parasitemia Threshold for Hypoglycemia Risk in Pediatric Uncomplicated Malaria: A Cross-sectional Study in Ivory Coast

Received: 28 October 2025     Accepted: 18 November 2025     Published: 31 December 2025
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Abstract

Background: Malaria remains a significant global health challenge, particularly in children in endemic regions. This study aimed to examine the prevalence, risk factors, and predictive indicators of hypoglycemia in children with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Urban Community Health Center of Anonkoua-Kouté in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Thirty-eight Black African children aged 3-14 years with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria were included. Parasitemia, leukocyte count, blood hemoglobin concentration, and glycemia were also evaluated. The Spearman coefficient was used to analyze non-parametric distributions. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the parasitemia threshold for optimal prediction of hypoglycemia risk. Results: The prevalence of hypoglycemia was 34.2%, with a mean blood glucose level of 4.17 mmol/l. An inverse correlation was observed between glycemia and parasitemia. ROC curve analysis demonstrated an optimal hypoglycemic risk with a sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 68% for a parasitemia threshold of 3,725/µL. No statistically significant associations were identified between glycemia and leukocyte count, hemoglobin level, or patient age. Conclusion: This study revealed a high prevalence of hypoglycemia in children with uncomplicated malaria, which was associated with elevated parasitemia levels. The importance of this factor in clinical settings arises from its potential impact on patient management and development of treatment strategies. The identified parasitemia threshold may serve as a critical indicator for evaluating treatment efficacy and assessing potential complications of malaria. Further research is warranted to validate these findings in larger multisite studies and to explore additional confounding factors.

Published in Advances in Biochemistry (Volume 13, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ab.20251304.12
Page(s) 119-125
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Malaria, Hypoglycemia, Parasitemia, Plasmodium Falciparum, Uncomplicated Malaria, Children

References
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[14] Urakami T. Severe Hypoglycemia: Is It Still a Threat for Children and Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes? Front Endocrinol [Internet]. Sep 2020 [cited August 31, 2025]; 11. Available on:
[15] Mangal P, Mittal S, Kachhawa K, Agrawal D, Rath B, Kumar S. Analysis of the Clinical Profile in Patients with Plasmodium falciparum Malaria and Its Association with Parasite Density. J Glob Infect Dis. 2017; 9(2): 60-5.
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    Ahiboh, H., Koffi, J. A., Koné-Dakouri, B., Koné, F., Kouakou, H. F., et al. (2025). Parasitemia Threshold for Hypoglycemia Risk in Pediatric Uncomplicated Malaria: A Cross-sectional Study in Ivory Coast. Advances in Biochemistry, 13(4), 119-125. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ab.20251304.12

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    ACS Style

    Ahiboh, H.; Koffi, J. A.; Koné-Dakouri, B.; Koné, F.; Kouakou, H. F., et al. Parasitemia Threshold for Hypoglycemia Risk in Pediatric Uncomplicated Malaria: A Cross-sectional Study in Ivory Coast. Adv. Biochem. 2025, 13(4), 119-125. doi: 10.11648/j.ab.20251304.12

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    AMA Style

    Ahiboh H, Koffi JA, Koné-Dakouri B, Koné F, Kouakou HF, et al. Parasitemia Threshold for Hypoglycemia Risk in Pediatric Uncomplicated Malaria: A Cross-sectional Study in Ivory Coast. Adv Biochem. 2025;13(4):119-125. doi: 10.11648/j.ab.20251304.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ab.20251304.12,
      author = {Hugues Ahiboh and Joëlle Akissi Koffi and Bénédicte Koné-Dakouri and Fatoumata Koné and Henri Francisk Kouakou and Angèle Edjéme-Aké and Eric Yayo and Hervé Menan and Dagui Monnet and Marie-Laure Hauhouot-Attoungbré},
      title = {Parasitemia Threshold for Hypoglycemia Risk in Pediatric Uncomplicated Malaria: A Cross-sectional Study in Ivory Coast},
      journal = {Advances in Biochemistry},
      volume = {13},
      number = {4},
      pages = {119-125},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ab.20251304.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ab.20251304.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ab.20251304.12},
      abstract = {Background: Malaria remains a significant global health challenge, particularly in children in endemic regions. This study aimed to examine the prevalence, risk factors, and predictive indicators of hypoglycemia in children with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Urban Community Health Center of Anonkoua-Kouté in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Thirty-eight Black African children aged 3-14 years with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria were included. Parasitemia, leukocyte count, blood hemoglobin concentration, and glycemia were also evaluated. The Spearman coefficient was used to analyze non-parametric distributions. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the parasitemia threshold for optimal prediction of hypoglycemia risk. Results: The prevalence of hypoglycemia was 34.2%, with a mean blood glucose level of 4.17 mmol/l. An inverse correlation was observed between glycemia and parasitemia. ROC curve analysis demonstrated an optimal hypoglycemic risk with a sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 68% for a parasitemia threshold of 3,725/µL. No statistically significant associations were identified between glycemia and leukocyte count, hemoglobin level, or patient age. Conclusion: This study revealed a high prevalence of hypoglycemia in children with uncomplicated malaria, which was associated with elevated parasitemia levels. The importance of this factor in clinical settings arises from its potential impact on patient management and development of treatment strategies. The identified parasitemia threshold may serve as a critical indicator for evaluating treatment efficacy and assessing potential complications of malaria. Further research is warranted to validate these findings in larger multisite studies and to explore additional confounding factors.},
     year = {2025}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Parasitemia Threshold for Hypoglycemia Risk in Pediatric Uncomplicated Malaria: A Cross-sectional Study in Ivory Coast
    AU  - Hugues Ahiboh
    AU  - Joëlle Akissi Koffi
    AU  - Bénédicte Koné-Dakouri
    AU  - Fatoumata Koné
    AU  - Henri Francisk Kouakou
    AU  - Angèle Edjéme-Aké
    AU  - Eric Yayo
    AU  - Hervé Menan
    AU  - Dagui Monnet
    AU  - Marie-Laure Hauhouot-Attoungbré
    Y1  - 2025/12/31
    PY  - 2025
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ab.20251304.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ab.20251304.12
    T2  - Advances in Biochemistry
    JF  - Advances in Biochemistry
    JO  - Advances in Biochemistry
    SP  - 119
    EP  - 125
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2329-0862
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ab.20251304.12
    AB  - Background: Malaria remains a significant global health challenge, particularly in children in endemic regions. This study aimed to examine the prevalence, risk factors, and predictive indicators of hypoglycemia in children with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Urban Community Health Center of Anonkoua-Kouté in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Thirty-eight Black African children aged 3-14 years with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria were included. Parasitemia, leukocyte count, blood hemoglobin concentration, and glycemia were also evaluated. The Spearman coefficient was used to analyze non-parametric distributions. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the parasitemia threshold for optimal prediction of hypoglycemia risk. Results: The prevalence of hypoglycemia was 34.2%, with a mean blood glucose level of 4.17 mmol/l. An inverse correlation was observed between glycemia and parasitemia. ROC curve analysis demonstrated an optimal hypoglycemic risk with a sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 68% for a parasitemia threshold of 3,725/µL. No statistically significant associations were identified between glycemia and leukocyte count, hemoglobin level, or patient age. Conclusion: This study revealed a high prevalence of hypoglycemia in children with uncomplicated malaria, which was associated with elevated parasitemia levels. The importance of this factor in clinical settings arises from its potential impact on patient management and development of treatment strategies. The identified parasitemia threshold may serve as a critical indicator for evaluating treatment efficacy and assessing potential complications of malaria. Further research is warranted to validate these findings in larger multisite studies and to explore additional confounding factors.
    VL  - 13
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Health Diagnostic and Research Center (CeDReS), Treichville University Hospital, Abidjan, Ivory Coast

  • Health Diagnostic and Research Center (CeDReS), Treichville University Hospital, Abidjan, Ivory Coast

  • Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry Training and Research Unit in Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences, F. Houphouët-Boigny University, Abidjan, Ivory Coast

  • Health Diagnostic and Research Center (CeDReS), Treichville University Hospital, Abidjan, Ivory Coast

  • Health Diagnostic and Research Center (CeDReS), Treichville University Hospital, Abidjan, Ivory Coast

  • Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry Training and Research Unit in Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences, F. Houphouët-Boigny University, Abidjan, Ivory Coast

  • Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry Training and Research Unit in Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences, F. Houphouët-Boigny University, Abidjan, Ivory Coast

  • Parasitology and Mycology Training and Research Unit in Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences, F. Houphouët-Boigny University, Abidjan, Ivory Coast

  • Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry Training and Research Unit in Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences, F. Houphouët-Boigny University, Abidjan, Ivory Coast

  • Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry Training and Research Unit in Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences, F. Houphouët-Boigny University, Abidjan, Ivory Coast

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