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Laboratory assessment of hypoglycaemia due to malaria in children attending general hospital, Katsina
Abstract
Early and accurate laboratory diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia as well as assessment of its severity which include among other parameters; blood glucose concentration are very important in the management of children with complicated malaria. In this study, the conventional thick blood film examination was used to detect malaria parasitaemia, while
enzymatic colorimetric glucose-oxidae technique was used to estimate blood glucose level. A total of (450) chlidren were assessed for malaria and hypoglycaemia due to malaria over a period of five months in paediatrics ward of General Hospital Katsina, Nigeria. From the results obtained, 380 (84.4%) children had primary diagnosis of malaria and 113 (25.1%) of the malaria positive children were hypoglycaemic on the first day of admission. Highest incidence of malaria and hypoglycaemia due to malaria were recorded in children between the age of 2-5 years with 37.3%
and 9.3% respectively. Lowest incidence of malaria and hypoglycaemia due to malaria were
recorded in children between the age of 11-15years with 9.3% and 3.3% respectively. Although apparently there was difference in the number of males and females found to be malaria positive as well as hypoglycaemic, chi-square (χ2) test at P≤0.05 showed no significant difference. Questionnaire analysis in this study showed that high incidence of severe malaria leading to hypoglycaemia in children could be attributed to poverty, malnutrition, inadequate management of
uncomplicated malaria in the health centres as well as late arrival at the hospital. Early laboratory and clinical diagnosis, correct treatment and improved quality management are key strategies for malaria control.
Key words: Hypoglycaemia, Malaria, Children
enzymatic colorimetric glucose-oxidae technique was used to estimate blood glucose level. A total of (450) chlidren were assessed for malaria and hypoglycaemia due to malaria over a period of five months in paediatrics ward of General Hospital Katsina, Nigeria. From the results obtained, 380 (84.4%) children had primary diagnosis of malaria and 113 (25.1%) of the malaria positive children were hypoglycaemic on the first day of admission. Highest incidence of malaria and hypoglycaemia due to malaria were recorded in children between the age of 2-5 years with 37.3%
and 9.3% respectively. Lowest incidence of malaria and hypoglycaemia due to malaria were
recorded in children between the age of 11-15years with 9.3% and 3.3% respectively. Although apparently there was difference in the number of males and females found to be malaria positive as well as hypoglycaemic, chi-square (χ2) test at P≤0.05 showed no significant difference. Questionnaire analysis in this study showed that high incidence of severe malaria leading to hypoglycaemia in children could be attributed to poverty, malnutrition, inadequate management of
uncomplicated malaria in the health centres as well as late arrival at the hospital. Early laboratory and clinical diagnosis, correct treatment and improved quality management are key strategies for malaria control.
Key words: Hypoglycaemia, Malaria, Children
