Table 2 Demographic, clinical and blood parasitological characteristics of the study population

Patient characteristics, Mean ± SD [range]

Age (years)

29.8 ± 17.1 [1–92]

7.7 ± 4.6 [1–14]

18.3 ± 1.8 [15–20]

37.3 ± 14.3 [21–92]

F = 142.83; P < 0.001

Weight (kg)

61.2 ± 20.0 [10–124]

28.8 ± 16.0 [10–72]

53.9 ± 12.5 [18.1–77.0]

71.0 ± 11.3 [35.0–124]

F = 255.88; P < 0.001

Temperature (°C)

37.7 ± 0.9 [35.0–41.0]

38.1 ± 1.0 [35.0–39.8]

37.8 ± 1.1 [35.6–40.5]

37.5 ± 0.8 [35.4–41.0]

F = 9.14; P < 0.001

Haemoglobin level (g/dL)

11.5 ± 1.4 [8.2–16.9]

11.2 ± 1.3 [9.2–14.0]

11.3 ± 1.5 [9.0–16.9]

11.6 ± 1.4 [8.2–15.1]

F = 1.76; P = 0.174

^¥GMPD (parasites/µl blood)

849 [105–7200]

695 [200–3500]

680 [105–4500]

942 [200–7200]

F = 0.758; P = 0.472

Patient characteristics, n (%)

Proportion of females (%)

216 (71.8)

31 (56.4)

23 (71.9)

162 (76.1)

χ² = 8.41; P = 0.015

Fever; temperature ≥ 37.5 ℃

166 (55.1)

41 (74.5)

18 (56.2)

106 (49.8)

χ² = 10.87; P = 0.004

History of fever

212 (70.4)

50 (90.9)

23 (79.1)

138 (64.8)

χ² = 14.33; P = 0.001

Febrile (fever and/or history of fever)

248 (82.4)

54 (98.2)

25 (78.1)

168 (78.9)

χ² = 11.64; P = 0.003

Anaemia (%)

109 (36.2)

23 (41.8)

85 (34.7)

85 (34.7)

χ² = 1.18; P = 0.320

Bednet usage (%)

108 (35.9)

22 (40.0)

85 (34.7)

85 (34.7)

χ² = 0.68; P = 0.458

Positive by microscopy

84 (27.9)

17 (30.9)

11 (34.4)

56 (26.3)

χ² = 1.19; P = 0.553

Positive by mRDT

81 (26.9)

12 (21.8)

10 (31.2)

59 (27.1)

χ² = 1.10; P = 0.578

Positive microscopy & positive mRDT

60 (19.9)

9 (16.4)

9 (28.1)

42 (19.7)

χ² = 6.27; P = 0.394

Positive microscopy & negative mRDT

24 (8.0)

8 (14.5)

2 (6.2)

14 (6.6)

χ² = 6.27; P = 0.394

Negative microscopy & positive mRDT

21 (7.0)

3 (5.5)

1 (3.1)

17 (8.0)

χ² = 6.27; P = 0.394