Variation of Some Hematological Parameters from the Normal Blood Counts as a result of Plasmodium falciparum (parasitaemia) Infection in children (6-59 Months).

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the influence of Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia on some selected hemalogical parameters in children (6-59months), at Bulumkutu Health Centre, Maiduguri, Bono State, between Augusts to December 2018. A total of 210 children were enrolled in the study which consists of 88 (41.90%) patients with positive P. falciparum malaria and 122 (58.10%) negative malaria. Hematological parameters were analyzed using sysmex haematology auto-analyser (2011), while the Giemsa stained slides thick and thin blood films were prepared from the stock solution, and tested for Plasmodium falciparum malaria and count of malaria parasite density. This study also showed the variation of some hematological parameters from the normal blood counts. In which, the children within the age group 51-60 months (27.27%) had a highest percentage of low PCV counts, whereas the children within the age group 31-40 months (2.27%) had the lowest percentage of PCV counts. In addition, the results also showed that the children within the age group 51-60 months (10.23%) had the highest percentage of normal PCV counts (33%), whereas the children within the age group 6-10 months (1.14%) (>33%) had the lowest percentage of normal PCV. Furthermore, it was found that the malarial infected subjects within the age bracket 51-60 months recorded a high percentage of children with thromobocytopenia (5.68%) and leucocytopenia (2.27%) and also a high percentage of thrombocytosis (10.23%) and leucocytosis (13.63%) respectively. However, the result obtained on neutrophil counts showed that the children within the age group 11-20 months (5.68%) recorded the highest percentage of neutropenia, while the children within the age group 51-60 months (13.63%) recorded the highest percentage of neutrophilia. Moreover, the result also showed that the malarial infected subjects within the age bracket 51-60 months (2.72%) had the highest percentage of Eosinopenia, while the malarial infected subject within the age group 21- 30 months (5.68%) had the highest percentage of eosinophilia. The result also showed that the children within the age group 51-60 months (13.63%) recorded highest percentage of lymphocytopenia, whereas the children within the age group 11-20 months (6.82%) recorded the highest percentage of lymphocytosis. Both monocytopenia and monocytosis was found among the malarial infected subjects within the age group 51-60 months had the percentage of occurrence of 9.09% for monocytopenia and 7.95% of monocytosis. From the result presented on table it was found that, about 78.41% of the subject had a low PCV, while 21.59% of the children tested positive had a fairly normal PCV as it was also reported that 14.77% of the subject had low thrombocytes, while 48.55% of the subjects had a normal thrombocytes and then 30.68% had a higher thrombocytes counts. Similarly, the results also revealed that 2.27% of the children tested positive had a white blood cell below normal counts, while 63.64% of the subjects are within the normal range, and 34.09% of the children had higher white blood cells counts. However 15.91% of the subjects had higher neutrophil and eosinophil counts. Whereas 15.91%, and 44.31% showed up with low neutrophil and eosinophil counts. The lymphocyte and monocyte counts were reported to have equal percentage of occurrence with normal counts. Whereas, 30.68% and 25.41% recorded a higher counts, while more than 15% where observed to be higher than the normal counts. By using normal blood counts of WHO, (1996). Normal values: PCV → (33%), Platelet → (150,000-400,000 x 10-9), WBC → (4.5 – 13x-9), Neutrophil → (30- 65%), Eosinophil → (1-4%), Lymphocyte → (30-60%), Monocyte → (1-9%), N = Number (group) WHO, (1996).