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.