Co-Infection of Plasmodium Species with Intestinal Parasites in Children with Fever Aged Ten Years and Below at Marani Sub County, Kisii County, Kenya
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Date
2023
Authors
Gichana, Amwoma Lucas
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Plasmodium and intestinal parasites are the most prevalent parasites causing diseases in
Africa and Asia. These diseases are common among children aged less than 10 years.
Malaria and intestinal parasitic infections have an overlapping distributions and
nonspecific symptoms. In most cases, fever in children is clinically diagnosed as
malaria infection. This diagnosis tends to attract a treatment of malaria alone, and fails
to treat other possible life threatening diseases like parasitic infections that share
common symptoms such as fever with malaria. Thus, the present study was aimed at
establishing the prevalence of Plasmodium and intestinal parasites co-infection in
children with fever aged 10 years and below in Marani sub county, Kisii County. A
hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted from the month of March to August
2018. This study used simple random and systematic sampling method. The sample size
was of 389 children drawn from a population who had febrile conditions, seeking
medication at health facilities and whose parents or guardians had agreed by signing a
consent form. Data were collected using closed-ended questionnaire. Stool and blood
samples were collected for microscopic identification of parasites. Formalin-ether
concentration technique was done for stool preparation with saline, iodine and
trichrome stains. Geimsa stain was used for blood slide preparations. Data were
analyzed by Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) software version 20. The
present study established that the main complaint by children seeking medication at
dispensaries in Marani was fever (89.7%), out of which, 81.7% were found to be having
fever above 37.5oC. The present study revealed that Plasmodium co-infection with
intestinal parasites had a prevalence of 22.8% in children and this co-infection was
significantly associated with fever in children (χ²=20.78, p=0.000). The study
established that the prevalence of Plasmodium co-infection with intestinal protozoa was
21.3% while co-infection between Plasmodium and intestinal helminths was 1.5%.
Infections by plasmodium species, intestinal protozoa and intestinal helminth parasites
were found to have significant relationship with fever in children (χ²=100.8, p=0.000),
(χ²=45.65, p=0.000) and (χ²=6.418, p=0.017) respectively. The study also revealed that
fever was significantly associated with infection by Plasmodium falciparum (χ²=10.714,
p= 0.030) or Entamoeba histolytica (χ²=21.470, p=0.0404). However, according to this
study, it was found that neither Ascaris lumbricoides, Strongyloides stercoralis nor
Trichuris trichiura was significantly associated with fever in children (χ²=8.337,
p=0.080). Based on these findings, the study concludes that infections by Plasmodium
falciparum and Entamoeba histolytica are most prevalent at 97.5% and 83.3%
respectively in children. Plasmodium species and intestinal parasites infections are
associated with severe fever in children. Therefore, the study recommends that
clinicians should request both blood and stool samples for laboratory identification of a
possible parasitic infection causing fever to a child before treatment to enhance disease
management and control.
Description
A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Science (Applied Parasitology) in the School of Pure and Applied Sciences of Kenyatta University, October 2023.
Keywords
Co-Infection of Plasmodium Species, Intestinal Parasites, Children, Fever, Children with fever