Studies on the Prevalence of Malaria Parasite among Children with Splenomegaly in Aba Metropolis, Abia State, Nigeria

Etusim P.E.1, Kalu C.1, Nduka F.O.2, Kalu E.C.3,
Melariri P.E.4, Nwoke M5, and Aduaka A.C.6,
1Unit of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria.
2Unit of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
3Department of Medicine, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria.
4Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town Medical School K45, South Africa.
5Department of Paediatrics, Living Word Mission Hospital, Aba, Abia State.
6Departmentt of Paediatrics, Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, Nigeria.
Email: etusimp@gmail.com,floxai@yahoo.com,
ABSTRACT
Malaria has been one of the prominent and ancient diseases which has been profiled and studied. It is the second leading health problem in sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for over 1 million deaths yearly in the region. This study was conducted in six treatment centres to determine the prevalence level of malaria parasite among children with splenomegaly. The role of treatment option, age, gender and control measures in the prevalence of malaria parasite and splenomegaly was studied. 403 patients in clinical state with confirmed cases of splenomegaly were tested with carestartTM2 malaria test kit for the presence of malaria parasite. Questionnaires were issued to their parents to help collect information relating to age, gender and malaria control measures. Out of the 403 persons sampled, 338(83.9%) were infected with malaria while 65(16.1%) were not. There is a significantly positive relationship between malaria incidence and splenomegaly. Of the 403 infected with splenomegaly, 114(75.4%) consulted qualified medical doctors for diagnosis and treatment while 289(87.2%) consulted traditional healers for treatment. The persons that consulted traditional healers recorded higher prevalence rate 252(87.2%) of Research Studies on the Prevalence of Malaria Parasite among Children with Splenomegaly in Aba Metropolis, Abia State, Nigeria 57 concomitant malaria infection than those that visited qualified doctors 86(75.4%). The difference in the prevalence level was however insignificant (X2 cal =0.62, P < 0.05, df = 1). Age group 1 – 3 years recorded the highest infection rate 172(89.5) while age group 13 – 15 years recorded the least infection rate 21(100%). The role of age in the prevalence level of malaria was found to be insignificant (X2 cal = 2.7, P < 0.05 and df = 4). Of the 403 people found with SPR, 237(58.8%) were males while 166(41.2%) were females. The prevalence of malaria was higher 199(84%) in males than in female 139(83.7%), but this was statistically insignificant (X2 cal = 0.0032, P < 0.05 and df = 1). Children living in homes where no control measures was adopted recorded the highest infection rate of malaria 125(95.4%) while those that used insecticide spray together with windows and door nets had the least prevalence of infection 33(78.6%). The difference in revalence rate among people using different control measures was however insignificant (X2 cal = 2.51, P < 0.05 and df = 4).Traditional healers though not yet well recognized play an important role in the management of splenomegaly in Aba metropolis. Some well known control measures for malaria failed to reduce prevalence significantly in this study.