Co-infection of Malaria and Anemia in Children Attending a Tertiary Health Facility in Ilorin, North Central Nigeria

Abstract

Malaria and anemia in children continue to pose significant public health challenges. This study aimed to assess the effect of malaria on  anemia and to identify co-infection rates among children visiting the General Hospital in Ilorin, Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. Two  hundred and eighty blood samples were obtained from outpatients aged 0 to 12 years and were screened for malaria using both thick  and thin blood films, which were examined microscopically. The anemia status was assessed by measuring the Packed Cell Volume (PCV).  Out of the 280 samples tested, 137 (48.9%) tested positive for malaria, with a higher prevalence noted in females (57.8%) compared to  males (46.0%). The age group of 0-3 years showed the highest infection rate (73.1%), while the lowest was observed in the 10-12 year age group. There was a noticeable trend of decreasing infection rates as age increased. Regarding anemia, an overall infection ratio of 43.2%  was recorded. The patterns of malaria infection were similar for both gender and age. A significant number of cases (91.2%) showed co- infection for both malaria and anaemia. Malaria continues to be a prevalent infection among children in the region studied and  significantly contributes to anaemia in this population. There is a pressing need for public education and the promotion of preventive  measures, such as the use of insecticide-treated bed nets, particularly among mothers and caregivers.