| ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2015 | Volume
: 8
| Issue : 1 | Page : 1-4 |
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A study of the relationship between the observation of fever symptoms and parasitemia among children in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
Adebola Onanuga1, Oluwatoyin A Igbeneghu2, Adebayo Lamikanra2
1 Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria
2 Department of Pharmaceutics, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Adebola Onanuga
Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State
Nigeria
 Source of Support: This work was not supported by any agencies or institutions,, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1755-6783.156668
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Background: Fever is usually associated with malaria parasitemia, and it is recommended that febrile children below the age of 5 years be treated with antimalarials. This study was undertaken to obtain information concerning the relationship between fever and the prevalence of malaria parasitemia among Nigerian children. Materials and Methods: Blood specimens from deep finger pricks of 730 children aged 0-2 years were examined for parasitemia using the Field's stain method, and the axillary temperature of each subject was measured. Results: Malaria parasites were observed in 26.1% of the afebrile children and 40.6%, a statistically significant difference, in febrile children. Furthermore, 59.2% of the febrile subjects had no detectable malaria parasites in their blood. Conclusions: Fever is not always indicative of parasitemia, and subjects with asymptomatic infection must be regarded as a significant reservoir of transmissible malaria parasites within the study environment. |
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