Parasitic infections associated with febrile conditions in Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The parasitic infections associated with febrile conditions were studied in 4800 patients attending routine medical examination in different health institutions in Owerri, Nigeria between 2001 and 2004 (3 years). Stool smears, urine deposits and blood smears were used to detect gastrointestinal, urinary tract and blood parasites respectively. Gastrointestinal parasites such as Ascaris lumbricoides, Hookworm, Trichuris trichuria, Entamoeba histolytica, Taenia spp, Giardia intestinalis, Enterobius vermicularis and Balantidium coli were found in 1065(22.18%) of the study population. Urinary tract parasites, which included Trichomonas. vaginalis and Schistosoma haematobium, were found in 330(6.87%) of the study population and hemoparasites (P. falciparum and Onchocerca spp.) in 1260(26.25%). Mixed infections of gastrointestinal and hemoparasites, gastrointestinal and urinary tract parasites, hemoparasites and urinary tract parasites were recorded in 390(8.12%), 15(0.31%) and 165(3.43%) of the study population respectively. More male patients had their febrile conditions associated with gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) parasites than female for hookworm 255(5.31%), T. trichuria 240(5.00%), Giardia intestinalis 60(1.25%) and B. coli 105(2.18%), while female patients had more febrile condition associated with urinary tract parasites than males for T. virginals 345(7.18%). 21 years and above had the highest infection rate of 238(75.56%) for hemoparasites and lowest for GIT parasites 75(24.00%). 360(28.23%) and 240(18.82%) were infected with GIT and hemoparasites respectively in 6 – 12 years febrile patients tested. Infant (0 - 5yrs) had the lowest infection rates. There is need for proper diagnoses of the causes febrile conditions for early and proper treatment in the study area.

International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 2(1) 2006: 34-39