Influence of Parasitaemia on Anaemia in Plasmodium Falciparum Treated Children at Lake-Alau, Borno State

The relationship between malaria parasite density and anaemia was investigated on 313 children (6-59) months. Drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum malaria is a major obstacle to malaria control. Plasmodium falciparum infection is a major contributory factor to the etiology of anaemia in malaria endemic areas of world, and this resulted in parasite resistance to drug therapy. Drug combinations for the treatment of P. falciparum malaria can delay the emergence and spread of resistance. Most of the monotherapies of anti- malarial drugs have gradually become less efficacious over time, while the most efficacious ones gradually lost their efficacies. The present study assessed packed cell volume (PCV level) as indicators for recovery from malaria anaemia (PCV? 33%) in children treated with AT+SP and AQ+SP between days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 28 days follow- up. The standard protocol for therapeutic efficacy studies by the World Health Organization was strictly followed, parasite densities and PCV on days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 28 in children (6-59 months) treated for Plasmodium falciparum malaria with AT+SP and AQ+SP. There was a sharp parasite clearance phase between days 0 to 3 after treatment then a more stable clearance from 7 to 28 days. Similarly, for each ?l of blood / parasites cleared there was a PCV recovery of 0.0214% versus 0.018% for AT + SP versus AQ + SP, respectively over 28 days of follow ? up.