Impact of Acute Malaria on Some Haematological Parameters in A Semi-Urban Community in Southwestern Nigeria

Malarial parasites are expected to induce haematological alterations but reports on changes in haematological parameters during malaria among adults in Southwest Nigeria are not well documented. To investigate the effect of acute malaria on some haematological indices, a sample of 5 ml of venous blood was drawn from each of 671 adults with acute malarial infection and 523 apparently healthy subjects in Iwo, Southwestern Nigeria, for examination of a full blood count. Malaria parasites detection was done by microscopic examination of thin and thick blood films stained with 3% Giemsa. Estimations of haematocrit, leucocyte, platelet, haemoglobin concentration and erythrocyte were made using an automated Coulter counter (STKS model). Participants with acute malaria had significantly lower (p < 0.05) mean values of haematocrit, leucocyte, platelet, haemoglobin concentration and erythrocyte count (33.7±4.8%, 3.7±1.2x10 /L, 132.0±33.8x10 9 9 /L, 117.2±16.0 g/L, 4.2±0.6x10 /L) compared to the apparently healthy subjects (39.5±4.0%, 5.3±2.1x10 /L, 12 9 163.2±29.5x10 /L, 136.5±13.4x10 g/L, 5.0±0.6x10 /L). Although, anaemia (OR = 7.1; CI = 5.5-9.2; p < 0.05), 9 9 12 leucopenia (OR = 6.5; CI = 4.1-10.4; p < 0.05) and thrombocytopenia (OR = 10.5; CI = 4.1-10.4; p < 0.05) were all significantly associated with acute malaria, thrombocytopenia showed the strongest association. Thrombocytopenia was the strongest predictor of acute malaria infection among the study population.