A Prospective Study Of Asymptomatic Malaria Parasitemia In Ife North Local Government Area Of Osun State, Nigeria.

📄 Project Abstract

The study aimed at establishing community prevalence of asymptomatic malaria parasitemia in Ife North Local Government Area of Osun State, South-Western, Nigeria. One hundred and sixty-seven (167) healthy volunteers and forty (40) clinically diagnosed and laboratory proven malaria cases (purposeful controls) were recruited into the study. The age range of subjects was between 5 and 55yrs. Of the 167 healthy volunteers, five tested positive and developed malaria within the period of twenty-one (21) days follow up and were excluded from the study, while two (2) defaulted. Out of the remaining 160, a total of 38 (23.8%) of the subjects were found to have asymptomatic malaria parasitemia by microscopic technique, while 35 (21.9%) tested positive by Rapid OptiMAL-IT method. Plasmodium falciparum was the only species among the positive cases. Prevalence rates for malaria parasitemia were highest among the youngest age groups (10-15yrs) and lowest in those 40yrs of age and older. It can be in...