The Prevalence and Effects of Asymptomatic Malaria and Intestinal Helminths Co-Infection among School-Aged Children in Calabar, Nigeria

Authors

  • C. V. Asiegbu Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Calabar, Cross River State
  • O. A. Oduwole Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State
  • S. Bello Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State

Abstract

The study aimed to determine the co-occurrence of intestinal helminths and Plasmodium parasites and its effect in school children living in Ikot-Omin, a rural community in Nigeria.In a cross-sectional study, 578 school children aged 5-15 years old were enrolled. Both thick and thick blood films were made and examined by two microscopists independently with a light microscope using x100 objective lens. The stool samples were examined using the brine floatation concentration technique for the presence of eggs and larvae of worms within 6 hours of collection. Anaemia status was determined according to normal pack cell volume rangeswith reference to age and gender.Overall, 207 (35.8%) of the participants had Plasmodium parasitaemia of which Plasmodium falciparum was 99.5%.Ninety-two (15.9%) participants had only malaria infection, 138 (23.9%) had intestinal helminths infection only while 115 (19.9%) had malaria and intestinal helminths co-infection. Anaemia varied by the status of infections and had the highest proportion of 58% among participants with helminth infection alone (p < 0.0001).School children will benefit from mass deworming and the use of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets in addition to educational intervention.

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Published

2021-07-07

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2021): Achievers Journal of Scientific Research (AJOSR)

Section

Original Research