Effect of plasmodium parasitaemia on some haematological parameters in children living in Sokoto, North Western, Nigeria
3rd International Conference on Hematology & Blood Disorders
November 02-04, 2015 Atlanta, USA

Erhabor Osaro, Mohammad Horo Jamilu, Ahmed H M and Ezimah A C U

Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Nigeria

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Blood Disord Transfus

Abstract:

Objectives: Malaria infection is a major public health problem and cause of morbidity and mortality particularly among children in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The aim of this present study was to determine the effect of plasmodium parasitaemia on some haematological parameters of children visiting the children emergency unit of Sokoto State Specialist Hospital in Sokoto, North Western, Nigeria. Method: This study was conducted among 126 children aged 2-11 years with mean age 5.36± 2.50 years presenting to the children emergency unit of Sokoto Specialist Hospital with history of febrile illness. Out of the children studied, 66 (52.4%) were positive for malaria while 60 (47.6%) were negative. Haematological parameters were analyzed using Mythic 22 CT 5- part differential Haematology analyzer (Orphée, Switzerland). Testing for malaria was carried out using the Onset Malaria Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) antibody (Ab) rapid test (CTK Biotech, Inc., USA) and speciation and number of parasites per high field was carried out on the Giemsa stained thing blood film. Results: The mean PCV, haemoglobin and platelet count of plasmodium- parasitized children was significantly lower compared to un-infected controls (29.48, 10.36 and 188.68) versus (32.76, 11.34 and 327.50) respectively (p=0.01). The prevalence of anaemia and thrombocytopenia was significantly higher among Plasmodium parasitized subjects compared to non-parasitized controls. Plasmodium falciparum was the predominant specie among the parasitized subjects. A negative and significant correlation was observed between the high number of parasite per high field and platelet count as index of thrombocytopenia and haemoglobin as index of anaemia (r=0.62 and p=0.75) respectively (p= 0.01) among parasitized subjects. Plasmodium parasitaemia was more prevalent among children in the 2-5 years age group (52.4%) compared to children in the 6-11 years age group (47.6%). Male children were more predisposed to malaria (53.0%) compared to female children (47.0%). Conclusion: Plasmodium parasitaemia has a significant impact on the haemoglobin, packed cell volume and platelet count of malaria parasitized children in Sokoto, Nigeria. Preventative strategies including regular chemoprophylaxis, intermittent preventative treatment with anti-malarials, provision of iron supplementation and insecticide-treated bed nets should be implemented urgently to prevent the negative impact of malaria parasitaemia on the haematological parameters of children in the area. There is need for community and peer-based awareness and education initiatives to strengthen the malaria prevention programme by educating parents on the benefits of effective environmental sanitation to destroy the breeding sites of Anopheles mosquito �??the vector of malaria.

Biography :

Erhabor Osaro completed his PhD in Immuno-hematology at Rivers State University of Science and Technology at Rivers State, Nigeria. He is a fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Science London. He has many scientific awards including the British Blood Transfusion Society and Margaret Kenwright- young scientist’s awards. He has written more than 140 articles, 4 books and 5 book chapters. He is reviewer and editor of several scientific journals from around the World.

Email: n_osaro@yahoo.com