Olivia Achonduh, PhD
Nominated From: University of Hawaii
Research Site: Cameroon
Project: Infection Pyrogens Profiles In Cameroon
Primary Mentor: Rose Leke PhD (University of Yaounde)
Research Project Background
Malaria is reported as the world’s most widespread infection. In Cameroon, malaria continues to be the major cause of mortality and accounts for 35%-40% of all deaths, 50% of morbidity among children under the age of five, 40%-45% of medical consultations and 30% of hospitalizations (NMCP, 2008). Consequently, at least 50% of most febrile patients are considered to have malaria and are given treatment out of fear of missing life-threatening Plasmodium falciparum infection. Serious consideration of other etiologies may not occur unless there is no clinical response to antimalarial treatment. The lack of affordable diagnostic tests and knowledge of the prevalence of other infectious diseases means that febrile patients are not managed optimally. These factors may promote the development of antimalarial and antibiotic resistance and unnecessary morbidity and mortality. With rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), current treatment algorithms leave doctors at odds on how to treat non-malaria febrile cases when RDTs are negative. There is limited data on the causes of non-malarial febrile illnesses in Cameroon. The aim of this study will be to determine other causes of fever in children in urban and rural settings in Cameroon.
Mentors
- Dr. Diane W. Taylor, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, USA
- Dr. Rose G. F. Leke, Biotechnology Centre, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon
Publications
