Effects of Childhood Malaria on the Biochemical and Haematological Profiles of Infected Children in Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The present study was carried out to establish data on the effects of childhood malaria on plasma levels of some haematological and biochemical parameters in the pathology of malaria in Anambra state children. Methods: The concentrations of   sodium ion (Na+), bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), total iron concentration, Haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV) and white blood cell (WBC), in blood samples of malaria parasitaemic children and control were evaluated using standard methods. Chi- square, Fisher Least Significance Difference, t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple regressions were employed to test significant differences among the variables. For all determination, the significant difference was set at p<0.05. Results: The female children infected with malaria parasites had a significant higher mean PCV than the male in the communities (31.73 ± 4.58 to 28.25 ± 3.75) and hospitals (31.12 ± 11.78 to 28.27 ± 5.56) surveyed respectively. Also the female infected children had significant higher WBC count than male. WBC count in malaria infection was gametocyte count dependent. Gametocyte count of 1 – 10 and 11 – 100 in communities and hospitals surveyed had significant different WBC count. In the age group comparison, malaria infected and uninfected children 0 – 4.9 years had significant higher bilirubin concentrations (0.55 ± 0.25 to.35 ± 0.14). Children aged 10 – 14.9 years old had significant higher Hb (10.30 ± 0.29 to 10.90 ± 0.26) than other age groups in the survey. Age comparison showed that PCV and Hb concentrations of malaria infected children aged 5 – 9.9 years were significantly lower than the control. Sex and age may be a determining factor for low PCV since male infected children had significant lower PCV in both community and hospital surveys. Hypernatraemia was generally observed in malaria infection amongst children in Anambra state. In hospital infections, there was significant elevation in the concentrations of liver enzyme (SGOT) in Plasmodium infected male more than their female counterpart. Conclusion: Symptomatic and asymptomatic malaria are associated with anaemia and haemoglobinuria. WBC counts in childhood malaria are gametocyte count dependent. Sex and age are predisposing factor for low PCV since the infected male children had a significant lower PCV in both community and hospital surveys.