Malaria and Hepatitis B co-infection in patients with febrile illnesses attending general outpatient unit of the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, Kano, Northwest Nigeria

Abstract

Malaria and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infections are co-endemic throughout much of the tropical and sub-Saharan Africa and both present major threat to public health. A study on the prevalence of HBV and Malaria co-infection was carried out on 200 patients presenting with fever at the General Outpatient Department (GOPD) of the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital (MMSH), Kano using Gold Standard microscopy and rapid diagnostic test (RDT). The effect of mono and co-infection on hematological parameters was also investigated. Fifty one (25.5%) out of the 200 patients studied were Malaria positive. Females had higher prevalence rate(18%) of Malaria infection than males with 7.5%. Age group 15-24 had the highest Malaria prevalence (11%) followed by age group 25-34 with 6.5%. Higher mean parasite density (1,200/µl) was recorded among subjects with monoinfection of Malaria than mean parasite density (518/µl) obtained among the co-infected. Mean parasite density was higher in female than male subjects. Thirteen (6.5%) subjects were HBV positive. Males had higher rate of infection with 4.5% prevalence than females with 2.0%. Nine individuals representing 4.5% of the total population had co-infection with higher prevalence (3%) among the males. Age groups 25-34 were observed to have high co-infection rate of 1.5% and the least prevalence was observed among the age group 15-24 with 0.5% prevalence for both males and females. Hematological evaluation carried out on all the categories of subjects shows significant difference in mean values of PCV (P=0.041), Hb (P=0.018) between the co-infection group and those with malaria infection and control groups. However, no significant difference (P>0.05) was observed in the values of WBC, PLT and Red cell indices among the co-infected and other test group. It was concluded that co-infection with the two ailments had no profound effect on hematologic parameters.

Co-Infection of Malaria and Hepatitis B Virus in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

“…The study also showed that the highest rate of malaria infection was observed in subjects in the 21 -30 year age range (55.66%). This agrees with the finding of some earlier work (7,14,17) who reported a higher malaria prevalence among the same age group and contrary to reports (13,18) where age group 1 -10 years had the highest malaria infection rate. We had a larger population of people within this age group who took part in the study; in addition, it's been observed by WHO findings that young people living in malaria endemic zones are more vulnerable and prone to infection with malaria than the elder ones (21).…”

“…The study also documented a prevalence rate of 6.0% for HBsAg, which is contrary to 19.0% reported from Ilorin (8), but is consistent with a 6.5% and 5.1% prevalence rate reported from the North and South, respectively (7,16). The finding here is in line with the assertion that HBV infection is on the alarming increase (23) with the prevalence ranging from 3.9% to 50.7%.…”

“…Analysis of the results also pointed to the facts that the female gender was more infected with malaria than their male counterparts, with a 44.67% infection rate. Similar reports were documented by different studies across the country (7,(13)(14)(15), however, this contradicts the higher malaria prevalence in males reported in other studies (17,18). The higher malaria infection rate observed in females could be due to high vulnerability and susceptibility of women to malaria, especially during pregnancy (7).…”

“…Similar reports were documented by different studies across the country (7,(13)(14)(15), however, this contradicts the higher malaria prevalence in males reported in other studies (17,18). The higher malaria infection rate observed in females could be due to high vulnerability and susceptibility of women to malaria, especially during pregnancy (7). Moreover, the extent of exposure to their environment could also be a contributing factor since females are in constant contact with their immediate surrounding and are more likely to be stable for mosquito bites through their daily activities.…”

“…The 41.0% malaria prevalence recorded in this research is less than 78.7% reported among patients attending the Health Centre of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) (13), as well as 80.40% and 62.7% re-ported from Aba and Umuahia, respectively (14,15). Although lower prevalence malaria rates had been reported in other researches across several parts of Nigeria (7,16,17), the prevalence recorded in this work is similar to 39.5% reported among patients visiting a semi-urban based hospital in Nigeria (18).…”