The use of herbs in malaria treatment in parts of Imo State, Nigeria.

Persistence of malaria symptoms after treatment with over the counter available antimalarial drugs has resulted in a gradual loss of faith in orthodox drugs. There is thus an increased tendency towards the use of herbs in the treatment of malaria in Imo State, Nigeria. In this study we report activities of two herbalists in the treatment of malaria as well as the effectiveness of the herbal treatment. The study covered two areas namely, Umuneke Ugiri in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area (LGA) and Odummara Obi-Orodo in Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State, Nigeria. A participant-observation technique was used. Finger prick blood samples were collected from patients who visited the herbalists complaining of malaria, and blood smears were stained with Field's B stain. Blood smears were taken again one-week post-treatment. A total of 75 patients from Umuneke Ugiri and 265 patients from Odumara Obi-Orodo were involved in the study. All the 75 patients (100%) from Umuneke Ugiri and 163 (61.51%) patients from Odummara Obi-Orodo were positive for malaria parasites. Only 13 (17.3%) patients from Umuneke Ugiri and 149 (56.23%) from Odummara Obi-Orodo returned for the post-treatment blood parasite analysis. From Umuneke Ugiri 4 (31%) were still positive for malaria parasite while 9 (69%) were negative. All 149 patients from Odummara Obi-Orodo were negative. This indicates that the herbal treatment was effective. However, there is need for further studies into the efficacy of herbal concoctions, their effective life span, as well as possible toxic effects.

Concomitant bacteria in the blood of malaria patients in Owerri, southeastern Nigeria.

The presence of concomitant bacteria was assessed in the blood of 125 malaria positive patients and 60 malaria negative controls, resident in Owerri, southeastern Nigeria. Blood samples were cultured in MacConkey, Chocolate and Blood agar, respectively using oxoid signal system after the manufacturer's instructions. Blood cultures of 44 (35.2%) of the 125 malaria positive patients had bacterial growth while none was observed in the blood cultures of malaria negative patients. The bacteria species identified included: Staphylococcus aureus 4 (3.2%), Escherichia coli 3 (2.4%) Salmonella typhi 25 (20%), Klebsiella pneumoniae 10 (2.4%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 2 (1.6%). The presence of concomitant bacteria in malaria-positive cases usually results in persistence of malaria-like symptoms after treatment with antimalarials and subsequently taken as resistance of the parasites to the particular drugs in question. The significance of concomitant bacteria in the management of malaria should be given priority.