Examination of Protective Factors Against Severe Malaria

This study, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and the University of Bamako in Mali, Africa, will examine factors that may protect against progression of malaria from mild to severe disease. Infection with the malaria parasite causes disease ranging in severity from mild or no symptoms to severe. A better understanding of what factors protect against disease progression may help scientists develop improved methods of disease prevention and treatment. The objectives of this study are to: * Identify differences in protective factors for severe malaria in Malinke children residing in two Mali villages, Kela and Kangaba. Genetic variations in hemoglobin proteins called HbS and HbC appear to confer protection against severe disease in some children but not others. HbC appears to protect young Malinke children living in Kela, but not in nearby Kangaba, while HbS protects children in Kangaba but not in Kela. In addition, deficiency of an enzyme produced by red blood cells called G6PD protects males, but not females, from severe malaria. * Investigate how fetal hemoglobin (HbF) may protect against malaria in infants and determine how HbS, HbC, G6PD deficiency, and beta-thalassemia trait affect the rate of HbF decline during the first 2 years of life. Children under 11 years of age who seek medical care at Kangaba or Kela health centers for symptoms of malaria may be eligible for this study. Each will be screened with a medical history, physical examination and blood test. In addition, healthy infants born to women referred to field site clinics may be enrolled for the newborn study. Participants undergo the following procedures: Children with mild malaria are treated with artesunate and amodiaquine. Those with severe malaria are treated with quinine. Blood is collected by finger prick every day for 4 days to evaluate the response to treatment and for genetic testing. Some blood is stored for future research related to malaria. Newborns have a heel or finger