ABSTRACT

The increased clinical state of malaria infection may be due to poor nutritional status most especially as a result of micronutrients deficiency. Micronutrients play vital role both in combating anaemia and other adverse effects of malaria infection in humans and animals in developing resistance against the disease. This research was aimed at establishing the effect of malaria parasite on neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio and some essential plasma electrolytes (calcium, magnesium and iron) as well as vitamins (vitamin B₁₂ and folate) of children. Ethical approval was gotten from ministry of Health, Benin City, Edo State. Test group was recruited from the paediatric ward of Central Hospital, Benin City. A questionnaire, written in English was administered to the parents of the subjects to fill. An informed consent was given to the parents or guardian of the children before sample was collected Blood sample was collected from two hundred (n = 200) children within the ages of l – 10 years as test group who are positive for malaria parasites while the control group were one hundred (100) children above l0yrs of age who do not have malaria parasites. Thick blood film was used to ascertain the level of parasitaemia using giemsa stain, vitamin B₁₂ was done using electroluminescence technique, folic acid was analysis was done using ELISA technique, while iron, magnesium and calcium was spectrophotometrically analyzed. Results gotten in this research shows that PCV decreased significantly compared to the control group, (p<0.05). White blood cell increased (p<0.05) compared to the control, Plasma calcium, magnesium and iron decreased significantly; there was decrease in folate and vitamin B₁₂. Micronutrients are not only necessary in the regeneration of heamolyzed red cells during malaria infection, but also served as antioxidants hence protecting the red cells against damage by malaria toxins. It is therefore of tremendous importance to assess micronutrients status of children with malaria.