Clinical Characteristics, Complications and Predictors of Outcome of Hospitalized Adult Sudanese Patients with COVID-19 and Malaria Co-Infection in Sudan, a Multi-Center Retrospective Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background Malaria and COVID-19 share several characteristics that could lead to cross-infection, particularly in malaria-endemic areas. Early COVID-19 symptoms might be misdiagnosed for malaria in clinical settings. Also, both diseases can cause fatal complications. So, laboratory testing for both diseases was recommended by the WHO. Objectives To study the clinical characteristics and outcomes of Adult Sudanese patients with COVID-19 and Malaria Co-infection. Methods and materials: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2021 to October 2021 in Wad Medani. A total coverage of all Sudanese patients above 18 years old with a confirmed diagnosis of co-infection with COVID-19 and malaria was included, and data was collected using a data collection sheet. Data was analyzed using R software version 4.0.2. Data were described and presented as mean ± Standard deviation (SD) and number (percentage). To find associated factors with in-hospital outcome, chi-square test, fisher exact test, and independent t-test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test were used. Results In this study, 156 participants were diagnosed with COVID-19 and malaria co-infection. Most of them were between 60-70 years (30.8%), the majority were males (59%). Shortness of breath (76.3%) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (35.3%) were the most common symptom and complication among co-infected patients, respectively. Ground glass opacity (n=47/49, 95.9%) is the most common result for CT scan. Atrial fibrillation was the most common abnormal ECG finding (n = 6/62, 9.7%). Overall mortality among all participants was (63/156, 40.4%). Conclusion High mortality rate was found among the co-infected patients. More attention is needed towards fighting COVID-19 and Malaria co-infection. There may be a link between Malaria and COVID-19.

Case report: unprecedented case of infantile cerebral infarction following COVID-19 and favorable outcome

“…Most children infected with COVID-19 exhibit either asymptomatic cases, mild respiratory symptoms, or fever (14). Pneumonia is one of the most common complication following COVID-19 (15). However, in this particular case, the infant displayed symptoms of fever but notably did not exhibit any signs of pneumonia.…”