Effects of Malaria Infection on Haematological Parameters among Patients in Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

Destruction and alteration of blood cells, especially erythrocytes, are the common devastating effects of malaria infection. This leads to haematological changes often characterised by anaemia, thrombocytopaenia, and leucocytosis or leucopaenia. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of malaria infection on erythrocytes and leucocytes with associated risk factors. 200 malaria-positive patients were enrolled in this study. The patients’ haematological parameters and parasitemia levels were assessed. Plasmodium falciparum was detected in 197 (98.5%) patients as the most predominant species, while 3 patients had mixed infection. A mean parasite density of 11,496 parasites/µL was observed, with the majority of the patients showing parasitaemia of <10,000 parasites/µL. Age groups 1-5 years, 6-15 years, and 26-35 years had patients that recorded parasitaemia of >50,000 parasites/µL. The mean white blood cells count, neutrophils, and eosinophils count in malaria-infected patients were seen to be increased compared to the malaria-negative control group. Haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit level, and mean cell haemoglobin were, however, seen to be lower in the malaria-positive patients than the control group. The majority of the patients had hypochromia indicated by lower mean cell haemoglobin, which increases with the severity of malaria infection. Haematological changes can be used to depict the severity of malaria infection among all age groups.