Tarbiat Modares University Infection Epidemiology and Microbiology 2588-4107 8 1 2022 02 01 Malaria and Urinary Tract Infections among Children Under five Years with Malnutrition at a District Hospital in Ghana 43 51 1873 10.52547/iem.8.1.43 EN Emmanuel Ameyaw Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology,Ghana Isaac Okyere Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology,Ghana Taiba Jibril Afaa University of Ghana Medical School, Ghana Rita Ameyaw Nursing and Midwifery Training College, Ghana Thomas O. Konney Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology,Ghana Patience Tuah Nutritional Rehabilitation Unit, Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Ghana Journal Article Background: Malnutrition is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children under five years. This study aimed to evaluate malaria and urinary tract infections among children under five years of age with malnutrition.<br> Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 189 children under five years with malnutrition. Their weight and height were measured using standard scales. Weight to height/length (wasting), weight to age (underweight), and height/length to age (stunting) ratios were computed using WHO growth charts. Clinical features were assessed. Blood smear, rapid diagnostic test for malaria, as well as urine dipstick test were done to detect those with malaria and urinary tract infections.<br> Findings: About 80.95% of participants had marasmus, and 11.64% had marasmic kwashiorkor, while 7.41% had kwashiorkor. Also, 23.70 and 62.42% of participants had moderate and severe malnutrition, respectively; in addition, 21.69 and 2.12% were moderately and severely stunted, respectively. Regarding underweight (weight to age), 50.26 and 4.76% were moderately and severely underweight, respectively. Also, 15.87% of participants had a positive blood smear for malaria, and 19.58% had a positive rapid diagnostic test for malaria, while 20.11 and 20.63% had positive results for nitrite and leukocyte esterase activity in urine dipstick test, respectively.<br> Conclusion: Malaria and urinary tract infections are common among children with malnutrition and could be diagnosed using simple laboratory tests such as rapid diagnostic tests and urine dipstick tests in health facilities without laboratory support in resource-limited countries. https://iem.modares.ac.ir/article_1873_d4b2aeb2453bdadaa45cbe9882ffefcf.pdf