Anaemia and Parasite Density in Malaria Infected Patients in University Of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria.

Abstract

Malaria is a major public health problem in sub-Sahara Africa. The aim of this study was to relate anaemia, malaria parasite density and some haematological parameters among 140 consecutively-recruited subjects, comprising of 70 malaria infected patients aged 5 to 70 years from the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. Seventy age and gender matched apparently healthy individuals non-malaria infected individuals were monitored as controls. Thirty eight (38) of the patients were males while 32 were females. The dehaemoglobinized Giemsa-stained thick blood film examination method was used for malaria parasite detection and count. Standard methods were used to determine the PCV, WBC, platelet count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). The result shows that the PCV and platelet count of the malaria infected patients was significantly lower than that of the controls (p<0.05). A significantly higher number of the patients (54%) were anaemic (p<0.05) with PCV of less than 35%. The parasites density was significantly higher in the anaemic patients than in the non- anaemic patients (p<0.05).  ESR and total WBC were also significantly higher in the anaemic patients than in the non- anaemic patients (p<0.05). The lower the age of the patients, the higher the level of anaemia. Younger patients (5-15years) had the greatest burden of parasitaemia (15.000 ± 358 parasites/µl). Advanced age was associated with lower level of parasitaemia (4,000 ± 683 parasites/µl). Similar trend was observed for the level of circulating platelet number in the malaria- infected patients. We therefore conclude that higher malaria parasite burden is associated with a significant degree of anaemia (lower haematocrit level). The lower the age of the patient, the higher the parasite density. The higher the circulating platelet number, the younger the patients and higher the parasite density.