Malaria and dengue are two significant vector-borne infections commonly found in tropical countries. In these regions, the simultaneous occurrence of malaria and dengue in the same individual cannot be ruled out, although reports of such co-infections remain scarce.

This study aimed to identify cases of dengue and malaria co-infection and to evaluate the severity of both diseases in co-infected patients by analyzing specific hematological parameters.

A cross-sectional study was conducted between June and November 2019, involving 385 patients presenting with undifferentiated febrile illness at outpatient clinics. Blood samples were collected from all participants. All samples were tested for dengue NS1 antigen and dengue IgM/IgG antibodies. Malaria diagnosis was confirmed through microscopic examination of thin and thick blood films for Plasmodium parasites.

Among the 385 patients, 23.9% tested positive for malaria, 32.5% for dengue, and 7.01% were concurrently infected with both malaria and dengue.

Patients co-infected with malaria and dengue exhibited significantly lower leukocyte counts (5.024 ± 0.559) compared to those infected with malaria alone (7.304 ± 0.388; p = 0.002). Additionally, platelet counts were significantly reduced in co-infected patients (164.0 ± 10.91 vs. 229.1 ± 14.32; p = 0.005). Conversely, hemoglobin levels were statistically lower in malaria mono-infected patients than in dengue mono-infected patients (p = 0.014).

These findings highlight the importance of routinely testing for both dengue and malaria in febrile patients to ensure better clinical management and treatment.

Malaria, Dengue, Coinfection, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso