PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION OF MALARIA, TYPHOID AND THEIR CO-INFECTION AMONG FEBRILE SUBJECTS IN PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE NIGERIA

*Abah A. E. and Fanson P. I.

ABSTRACT

This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of malaria and typhoid fever among febrile subjects in Port Harcourt. A venous blood sample of 5 ml was collected in an EDTA bottle in accordance with routine clinical practice for all patients referred for laboratory investigation of malaria/typhoid infection from three hospitals in Port Harcourt. Malaria parasites and typhoid infections were determined using examination of blood slides for malaria parasites and serological test for typhoid infection. Infection rate of malaria was determined to be 278 (55.6%) out of 500 patients in Port Harcourt hospitals, 148 (60.7%) males out of 244 were infected and 130 (51.2%) out of 256 females were infected respectively. Malaria infection affected more males than females, although there was no significant difference between both sexes, (p>0.05). Typhoid fever affected 200 (40%) persons, more female subjects 110 (43%) than the male 90 (37%) were infected. The results showed that chi-sq=9.592. df=5, p-value=0.088 (p>5%). Thus male age group is not significant to the prevalence of malaria infection. Also, female age group is not significant to the prevalence of malaria infection since chi-sq=10.702. df=5, p-value=0.058 (p>5%). However, male and female age groups are significant to the prevalence of malaria infection at 10% significant level. Further results showed that chi-sq=36.081. df=6, p-value=0.000 (p<5%), hence, male age group is significant to positive widal test infection. Also, female age group is significant to positive widal test infection since chi-sq=36.062. df=6, p-value=0.000 (p<5%). More so, male and female age groups are significant to positive widal test infection at 1% significant level. Co-infection of malaria with tyhoid using widal test was 23.0% with more females 28.1% against 17.6% males. The co-infection frequency was higher among the age group 41-60 years and lower among the age range 1-10 years. In conclusion, Malaria, Typhoid fever and their co-infection is high in the Port Harcourt. There is a need to increase awareness campaign about clean environment, hand washing habits and all other steps that would drastically reduce the preponderance of these infections in the study area.

Keywords: Malaria; Typhoid; Co-infection; febrile; Rivers State.