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Table 2 General knowledge on malaria as observed among the healthcare professionals working for the healthcare institutions at the primary level of care of the PHM

From: Challenges for the diagnosis and treatment of malaria in low transmission settings in San Lorenzo, Esmeraldas, Ecuador

 

Physicians

n = 14; n (%)

Other staff

n = 31; n (%)

Total

n = 45; n (%)

Suspected disease upon encountering a febrile patient

 Malaria

11 (78.6)

30 (96.8)

41 (91.1)

 Dengue

11 (78.6)

15 (48.4)

26 (57.8)

 Chikungunya

9 (64.3)

9 (29.0)

18 (40.0)

 Zika

9 (64.3)

8 (25.8)

17 (37.8)

 Other

4 (28.6)

6 (19.4)

10 (22.2)

Methods for diagnosis

 Thick blood smear and RDTs

12 (85.7)

29 (93.6)

41 (91.1)

Malaria-related symptoms

 Classic triad

0 (0.0)

3 (9.7)

3 (6.7)

 Fever

14 (100.0)

30 (96.8)

44 (97.8)

 Cephalea

6 (42.9)

18 (58.1)

24 (53.3)

 Diaphoresis

2 (14.3)

4 (12.9)

6 (13.3)

 Chills

1 (7.1)

11 (35.5)

12 (26.7)

 Myalgia

5 (35.7)

8 (25.8)

13 (29.0)

 Arthralgia

6 (42.9)

8 (25.8)

14 (31.1)

 General exanthema

0 (0.0)

4 (12.9)

4 (8.9)

 General discomfort

4 (28.6)

9 (29.0)

13 (28.9)

 Abdominal pain

2 (14.3)

1 (3.2)

3 (6.7)

 Pruritus

0 (0.0)

1 (3.2)

1 (2.2)

 Conjunctivitis

0 (0.0)

1 (3.2)

1 (2.2)

 Vomiting

1 (7.1)

3 (9.7)

4 (8.9)

 Retro-ocular pain

3 (21.4)

3 (9.7)

6 (13.3)

Severe symptoms

 Persistent fever

3 (21.4)

6 (19.4)

9 (20.0)

 Persistent vomiting

0 (0.0)

3 (9.7)

3 (6.7)

 Altered consciousness

2 (14.3)

3 (9.7)

5 (11.1)

 Seizures

1 (7.1)

0 (0.0)

1 (2.2)

 Jaundice

3 (21.4)

2 (6.5)

5 (11.1)

 Haemorrhage

4 (28.6)

3 (9.7)

7 (15.6)

 Signs of dehydration

5 (35.7)

6 (19.4)

11 (24.4)

 Hyperparasitaemia

0 (0.0)

0 (0.0)

0 (0.0)

Causal agent

 Plasmodium

11 (78.6)

9 (29.0)

20 (44.4)

Transmission mechanism

 Mosquito bite

14 (100.0)

30 (96.8)

44 (97.8)

Transmitting vector

 Anopheles

7 (50.0)

11 (35.5)

18 (40.0)

Plasmodium that infects humans

 At least 2 species

12 (85.7)

21 (67.7)

33 (73.3)

 At least 3 species

6 (42.9)

4 (12.9)

10 (22.2)

Plasmodium species circulating in the country

 P. vivax and P. falciparum

9 (64.3)

17 (54.8)

26 (57.6)

Prevention and control measures

 Repellent

10 (71.4)

24 (77.4)

34 (75.6)

 Adequate clothing

3 (21.4)

9 (29.0)

12 (26.7)

 Mosquito net

12 (85.7)

24 (77.4)

36 (80.0)

 Fumigation

4 (28.6)

1 (3.2)

5 (11.1)

 Intra-domiciliary spraying

0 (0.0)

0 (0.0)

0 (0.0)

 Controlling breeding sites

11 (78.6)

26 (83.9)

37 (82.2)