Studies On the Incidence of Asymptomatic Plasmodium Infection among Apparently Healthy Subjects in Orphanages in Kaduna and Zaria, Nigeria

Abstract

The incidence of asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infection among orphans between age groups, gender and blood groups was investigated. Standard microscopic methods were used to screen for malaria parasites in the blood specimens obtained from eighty-five (85) subjects in three orphanages in Kaduna and Zaria, Nigeria. An overall incidence of 14.1% was observed in this study. The age group 0-3 years had the highest overall incidence of 28.5% and lowest in the age group 16-19 years (0.0%). With respect to gender, a higher incidence was recorded among female subjects (17.50%) than males (11.11%) . There was no significant difference in the age and sex of the subjects studied (p>0.5). There was no correlation between asymptomatic Plasmodium infection and the blood groups of subjects. To reduce morbidity and mortality rate among children in orphanages, there is a need for the use of chemoprophylaxis and insecticide- treated nets in orphanages.

Key words: Plasmodium falciparum, Orphanage, blood group, Age group.