Phytotherapeutic Management of Malaria and Fever in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Treatment failure and resistant falciparum malaria are major problems militating against conventional methods in the treatment of malaria in Udi. As an alternative measure, the people have resorted to the use of phytotherapy in malaria control and febrifuge. This study assessed the efficacy of multiherbal mixture or aqueous herbal extracts in the management of uncomplicated P.falciparum malaria infection. Following twice daily treatment for two days with the aqueous extracts of the (herbs) plants, the fever disappeared; and when WHO extended field test was employed to assess the efficacy of the medication, parasitamia disappeared in all of them by the 3rd day. The mean parasite clearance time was calculated as 3.0 + 0.0 days suggesting clinical efficacy. Phytotherapy is natural, devoid of severe adverse events, and above all, it is affordable, available and acceptable to the people. It is concluded that the herbal (remedy) or extracts are efficacious and the use of phytotherapy for malaria and fever management will continue to thrive among the rural populations and lend support for the millennium development strategy of all roll back malaria.

Key words: malaria, holoendemic, herba/natural medicine, parasitamia, phytotherapeutics