Urinary schistosomiasis and malaria associated anemia in Ethiopia

Objective: To assess the prevalence of anemia in children with urinary schistosomiasis, malaria and concurrent infections by the two diseases. Methods: Urine and blood samples were collected from 387 children (216 males and 171 females) to examine urinary schistosomiasis and malaria and to determine hemoglobin concentration at Hassoba and Hassoba Buri village in Amibara woreda, Afar region, Ethiopia. Results: The overall prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis and Plasmodium falciparum malaria was 24.54% and 6.20% respectively. Only 2.84% of children carried concurrent infections of both parasites. There was high percentage of anemic patients (81.81%) in the coinfected cases than in either malaria (33.3%) or schistosomiasis (38.94%) cases. There was significantly low mean hemoglobin concentration in concurrently infected children than non-infected and single infected (P0.05). The level of hemoglobin was negatively correlated with the number of S. haematobium eggs/10 mL urine (r=-0.6) and malaria parasitemia (r=-0.53). Conclusions: The study showed that anemia is higher in concurrently infected children than non-infected and single infected. Furthermore, level of hemoglobin was negatively correlated with the number of S. haematobium eggs and malaria parsitemia. Therefore, examination of hemoglobin status in patients co-infected with malaria and schistosomiasis is important to reduce the risk of anemia and to improve health of the community.

Urinary schistosomiasis and malaria associated anemia in Ethiopia

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the prevalence of anemia in children with urinary schistosomiasis, malaria and concurrent infections by the two diseases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Urine and blood samples were collected from 387 children (216 males and 171 females) to examine urinary schistosomiasis and malaria and to determine hemoglobin concentration at Hassoba and Hassoba Buri village in Amibara woreda, Afar region, Ethiopia.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The overall prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis and Plasmodium falciparum malaria was 24.54% and 6.20% respectively. Only 2.84% of children carried concurrent infections of both parasites. There was high percentage of anemic patients (81.81%) in the coinfected cases than in either malaria (33.3%) or schistosomiasis (38.94%) cases. There was significantly low mean hemoglobin concentration in concurrently infected children than non-infected and single infected (P<0.05). The mean hemoglobin concentration between Plasmodium falciparum and S. haematobium infected children showed no significant difference (P>0.05). The level of hemoglobin was negatively correlated with the number of S. haematobium eggs/10 mL urine (r=-0.6) and malaria parasitemia (r=-0.53).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The study showed that anemia is higher in concurrently infected children than non-infected and single infected. Furthermore, level of hemoglobin was negatively correlated with the number of S. haematobium eggs and malaria parsitemia. Therefore, examination of hemoglobin status in patients co-infected with malaria and schistosomiasis is important to reduce the risk of anemia and to improve health of the community.</p>

Assessment of public health implication of malaria-geohelminth co-infection with an emphasis on hookworm-malaria anemia among suspected malaria patients in asendabo, southwest Ethiopia.

INTRODUCTION: Malaria and geo-helminth infections are causes of severe illness and poor economic growth. Overlapping distributions of both parasites lead to high rate of co-infection. OBJECTIVE: The study was designed to assess public health importance of Malaria-geo-helminth co-infection with an emphasis on anemia in Asendabo, south west Ethiopia. METHODS: A total of 370 suspected malaria cases were involved in the study. Each stool sample was analyzed using Kato-Katz techniques. Thick blood films were used for detection and quantization of malaria parasites. Hemoglobin was determined using Sysmex hematology analyzer. RESULT: 61.6% individuals were positive for at least one intestinal helminth and/or protozoan infection. Hookworm was the most prevalent (38%) followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (19.2%) and Trichuris trichiura (10.3%). Furthermore, 32.4% of the study participants were positive for either of the two Plasmodium species; of which 64.3% were P. falciparum and the rest 35.7% were P. vivax. Based on WHO definition of anemia, 27.6% were anemic cases and both hookworm and malaria infections were significantly associated with anemia (P < 0.05). 20.8% of study participants were co-infected with malaria and any helminth. Hookworm and malaria positive individuals had low mean hemoglobin concentration than their respective negative counter parts and the difference was significant (P < 0.05). Furthermore, mean hemoglobin concentration was significantly lowered in malaria-hookworm co-infected individuals than individuals infected with either hookworm or malaria infection alone (F = 69.39, P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: In general malaria hookworm co-infections worsen hemoglobin loss. And we recommend that individuals co-infected should receive prompt health care to control and prevent morbidity/mortality from anemia.