Across tropical Africa, febrile children are treated for malaria either with or without
confirmation thus resulting in failure to diagnose and treat other co-morbidities like
urinary tract infections (UTI) and upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) that may
coexist with malaria. This cross-sectional study examined coexisting malaria with
UTI and further assessed the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of the isolated
organisms among children aged less than 5 years presenting with fever and malaria.
Thick and thin blood films were used for the diagnosis of malaria and urine samples
were collected in sterile, widescrewed-mouth, leak proof containers for culture and
sensitivity. Organisms isolated were identified and tested for their antimicrobial
sensitivity patterns using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Prevalence of
malaria with coexisting UTI was 3.3% with majority (58.0%) of the participants
being female. Age was associated with malaria and UTI co infection prevalence of
co-infection being 24-36 age group. Escherichia coli (50%) Staphylococcus aureus
(25%),Klebsiella species(16.70%) and Proteus species (8.3%) were isolated.Coinfection
of malaria and UTI was present in febrile children under five years in
Muhimbili National Hospital. Non detection implies that such hidden morbidity
would be untreated. Health care personnel should rule out UTI when managing
febrile children less than five years with malaria.