Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the participants

Mean age in years ± SD (range)

3.1± 2.5 (1–10)

Sex ratio (M/F)

1:1 (112/100)

Haemoglobin status

Normal (HbAA)

187 (88.2%)

Sickle cell anaemia (HbAS)

25 (11.8%)

Mean haemoglobin level (g/dl)

11.4 ± 4.3

Mean haematocrit (%)

32.8 ± 13.1

Mean red blood cell count (1 × 10¹²/L)

5.1 ± 1.9

Mean white blood cell count (1 × 10⁹/L)

12.4 ± 6.7

Mean platelet count (1 × 10⁹/L)

277.2 ± 158.1

Median parasitaemia (parasites/µl)

10,101 (118.5–280,828)

Malaria diagnosis

Uncomplicated malaria

22 (10.4%)

Submicroscopic infection

52 (24.5%)

Malaria negative

138 (65.1%)