Scientists uncover lasting damage for children brains - na malaria cause am?
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that children who survived severe malaria in Uganda had lower IQs and struggled with learning, particularly in maths, years after the initial infection. The research followed over 1,400 children and suggests that severe malaria can cause lasting brain damage.
Researchers followed over 1,400 children in Uganda as part of the Malarial Impact on Neurobehavioral Development study. The study found that children who developed severe malaria suffered brain damage that affected their learning years after the initial infection. On average, children who survived severe malaria scored three to seven IQ points lower than those who never had the infection. The damage, described as a 'hidden scar', can lead to difficulties in maths, reading, and overall thinking ability. Severe malaria, including cerebral malaria and severe anaemia, affects up to two million children annually, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. The long-term effects can impact not only individual job prospects but also a household's and country's economic productivity.
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