Retrospective Study on the Prevelence of Malaria Parasitaemia Among Sickle Cell Patients in Awka, Nigeria

B. Ogeneh¹, A.O. Ajayi¹ and C.C. Ibekwe²

¹Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Federal University Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria ²Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Caritas University, Amorji-Nike, Enugu.

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/ http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bbra/1528

ABSTRACT:

Sickle cell is a serious genetic health disorder that is common in West Africa. Nigeria has the highest prevalence of sickle cell anemia in the world and it has continued to pose significant health challenges among sufferers and health policy makers; occasioned by the morbidity and mortality always associated with the disease. This retrospective study was carried out to determine the prevalence of malaria parasitemia among individuals with sickle cell anaemia at a private health care facility in Awka, Southeastern Nigeria. Medical records of 92 sickle cell patients and 162 non sickle cell patients were examined between 2006 and 2010. The prevalence of malaria among sickle cell patients was observed to be 14.1%; lower than the prevalence among non-sickle cell patients (89.8%). The incidence of malaria was higher in males (8.7%) than females (5.4%). In this study, the prevalence of malaria reduced with age. There should be continuous surveillance for malaria parasitemia among individuals with sickle cell anaemia.

KEYWORDS: Malaria; sickle cell; Nigeria.

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