Malaria and typhoid fever co-infection among febrile patients in Kumbotso Local Government Area Kano, Nigeria

Abstract

Malaria and typhoid fever are of tremendous public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa (Nigeria inclusive). Because of the high prevalence of malaria and typhoid fever in Nigeria, co-infection is common. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of Malaria, Typhoid fever and their co-infection among febrile patients in Kumbotso Local Government Area Kano, Nigeria. A Total of 125 subjects of both age and sex suggestive of Malaria and/or typhoid fever were used as participants. Five milliliter (5 ml) of blood samples were collected from each of the participant for widal tests and blood film from a period of April, 2015 to October, 2015. The results revealed a malaria prevalence of 55% (69/125). The sero-prevalence of typhoid fever was 18% (22/125) while 22% (28/125) had malaria and typhoid fever co-infection and 5% (6/125) appeared to be negative for both malaria and typhoid fever. However, the result showed that malaria is more likely to cause fever than typhoid infection. Statistical analysis of the result showed that there is significant different on the incident of malaria and that of typhoid fever among febrile patients at p > 0.05. It is recommended that intervention programs aimed at reducing malaria and typhoid infections should be increased in such areas, especially in the wet seasons.

Keywords: Blood film, Co-infection, Malaria, Typhoid fever, Widal test