The impact of haemoglobin level and concomitant infections on malaria parasitaemia and on-set of fever during malaria attack in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

A five month study (April-August, 2001) was carried out in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State to ascertain the impact of haemoglobin level and concomitant infections on malaria parasitaemia and the on-set of fever during malaria attack. Two sets of subjects were used; the clinically-ill and non-clinically ill. The clinically-ill were those who reported ill with the usual symptoms of fever, headache, chills and joint pains at the clinic of the National Root crop Research Institute Umudike, which serves all patients from the whole Local Government Area. The non-clinically ill where students of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike who were not apparently ill. Two hundred and five of the clinically ill subjects and 300 of the other group were examined for malaria parasitaemia using Thick Blood Film Method, while their haemoglobin were estimated using Colorimeter Method. The result revealed that malaria prevalence was high for both groups, although the clinically ill showed a significantly (p<0.05) higher prevalence (88.8%) than the non-clinically ill (62.7%). Differences in prevalence of both sexes of the clinically ill subjects was not significant while females of the non-clinically ill showed significantly (p<0.05) higher prevalence (64.4%) than the males (60.9%). Haemoglobin level correlated significantly (p<0.05) and negatively with malaria intensity and had strong impact on the onset of paroxysm during Plasmodium infection. Likewise, the presence of concomitant infections in the clinically ill subjects quickened the on-set of clinical signs. The need for proper laboratory diagnosis to ascertain real cause/s of fever during malaria attack so as to avoid wrong treatment/under treatment, and balanced diet to build up high haemolobin level is highlighted.

The Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol. 24 2003: 25-32