Table 2 Baseline characteristics of children enrolled into the study

Mean age (months)

40.4 (± 19.2)*

Sex (male/female)

203/198

Mean temperature (°C)

38.4 (± 1.2)*

Mean haematocrit (%)

28 (± 3.1)*

Mean weight (Kg)

13.1 (± 3.2)*

% positive by microscopy

42.1% (169/401)

% positive by stevor PCR

71.1% (285/401)

% positive by SSUrRNA PCR

59.1% (237/401)

% positive by msa-2 PCR

50.1% (201/401)