Table 1 Baseline characteristics by nutritional status, modified intent-to-treat population (N = 397)

 Season at inclusion, n (%)

0.943

  High transmission (June–October)

66 (50.4)

133 (50.0)

  Low transmission (November–January)

65 (49.6)

133 (50.0)

 Age in months, mean (SD)

16.9 (7.7)

28.2 (13.0)

<0.0001

 Male gender n (%)

65 (49.6)

122(45.9)

0.481

 Rural residence, n (%)

126 (96.2)

260 (97.7)

0.373

 Education of mother, n (%)

0.051

  None

114 (87.0)

210 (78.9)

  Primary or secondary

17 (13.0)

56 (21.1)

 Has a mosquito net

107 (81.7)

215 (80.8)

0.838

  In good state

47 (35.9)

92 (34.6)

0.648

  Used it all nights the previous week

95 (72.5)

200 (75.2)

0.567

 Weight in kg, mean (SD)

6.9 (1.1)

10.6 (2.5)

<0.0001

 Height in cm, mean (SD)

74.4 (6.8)

84.5 (10.3)

<0.0001

 Weight-for-height z-score, mean (SD)

−3.42 (0.55)

−1.01 (0.92)

<0.0001

 MUAC in mm, mean (SD)

116.8 (6.6)

139.2 (12.1)

<0.0001

 Weight-for-age z-score, mean (SD)

−3.39 (0.58)

−1.41 (0.93)

<0.0001

 Stunting (height-for-age z-score < –2), n (%)

62 (47.3)

71 (26.7)

<0.0001

 Measured temperature > 37.5 °C, n (%)

115 (89.2)

226 (85.6)

0.331

 Fatigue, n (%)

112 (85.5)

198 (74.4)

0.012

 Anorexia, n (%)

110 (84.0)

178 (66.9)

<0.0001

 Vomiting, n (%)

27 (20.6)

58 (21.8)

0.785

 Diarrhea, n (%)

37 (28.2)

21 (7.9)

<0.0001

 Cough or bronchitis, n (%)

55 (42.0)

87 (32.7)

0.070

 ENT (otitis media, rhinorrhea), n (%)

52 (39.7)

113 (42.5)

0.596

 Splenomegaly, n (%)

25 (19.1)

46 (17.3)

0.662

 Parasite density (parasites/μL), median

10880

11520

0.7648

 IQR

3683–32160

4200–39240

 Presence of gametocytes

40 (30.5)

63 (23.7)

0.143

 Hemoglobin concentration (g/dL), mean (SD)

8.6 (1.5)

8.8 (1.5)

0.196

 Hemoglobin <10 g/dL, n (%)*

104 (79.4)

196 (73.7)

0.214

 Hemoglobin <7 g/dL, n (%)

20 (15.3)

32 (12.0)

0.369