Abstract
Lead and malaria both present significant health risks to children in Sub-Saharan Africa. Previous studies have shown that high blood lead levels in children act as a protective factor against subsequent malaria incidence. The main objective of this study was to investigate associations between blood lead level and malaria outcomes prospectively in Beninese children from 12 to 24 months of age. Two-hundred and four children were assessed for lead at 12 months and closely followed until 24 months for malaria; when symptoms and parasite density were also recorded. Univariate and multivariate negative binomial and linear regression models tested associations between blood lead level quartile and total episodes of malaria (total symptomatic and asymptomatic episodes) and parasite density, respectively. Median blood lead level among children measured at 12 months was 56.50 (4.81–578) μg/L. During the 12-month follow-up, 172 (84.31%) children had at least one malaria episode. Univariate and multivariate negative binomial and linear regressions did not reveal significant associations between blood lead level quartile and malaria outcomes. Iron deficiency was not found to be an effect modifier. Results from this prospective child-cohort study investigating associations between blood lead level and malaria did not confirm results from previous cross-sectional studies. Further research is needed to further explore this relationship and other co-morbidities due to malaria and lead.
Highlights
Lead (Pb), a toxic heavy metal with a blood half-life time between 30–40 days [1][2], is found in gasoline, paint, contaminated soil, ammunition, and water pipes [3] and can have permanent, harmful effects on the human body if ingested or inhaled [4]
Of the 204 children eligible for our study for which data was available on lead assessment at 12 months of age and malaria follow-up, 170 (83.33%) were present at 24 months of age
Iron deficiency is shown to be strongly positively correlated to increased lead absorption, suggesting that prevention and treatment of iron deficiency should be in accordance with strategies to reduce lead exposure in vulnerable populations
Summary
Lead (Pb), a toxic heavy metal with a blood half-life time between 30–40 days [1][2], is found in gasoline, paint, contaminated soil, ammunition, and water pipes [3] and can have permanent, harmful effects on the human body if ingested or inhaled [4]. Blood lead level and subsequent malaria risk in children
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