Effect of plasmodium Parasitaemia on some haematological parameters in children living in Sokoto, North Western, Nigeria

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 5part 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 plasmodiumparasitized 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 antimalarials, provision of iron supplementation and insecticide-treated bed nets should be implemented urgently to prevent the negative impact of malaria 58 Erhabor Osaro et al.: Effect of Plasmodium Parasitaemia on some Haematological Parameters in Children Living in Sokoto, North Western, Nigeria 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.