Comparative analysis of malaria parasite density using actual and assumed white blood cell counts

• Published in: Annals of tropical paediatrics 2007-03, Vol.27 (1), p.75-79
• Main Authors: Jeremiah, Zaccheaus Awortu, Uko, Emmanuel Kufre
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age Factors; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Human protozoal diseases; Humans; Infant; Infectious diseases; Leukocyte Count; Malaria; Malaria - blood; Malaria - parasitology; Malaria, Falciparum - blood; Malaria, Falciparum - parasitology; Male; Medical sciences; Parasitic diseases; Plasmodium - isolation & purification; Plasmodium falciparum - isolation & purification; Protozoal diseases; Sex Factors
• ISSN: 0272-4936; 2046-9047; 1465-3281; 2046-9055
• DOI: 10.1179/146532807X170547

To compare malaria parasite densities, calculated using the white cell counts (WBC) of individual children with a standard WBC count of 8.0 x 10(9)/L. In a cross-sectional study, the prevalence of malaria WBCs and malaria parasite densities were estimated in 240 healthy Nigerian children aged 1-8 years. Of 240 children, 75 (31.25%) were infected with malaria, 69 (28.75%) with P. falciparum and 9 (3.75%) with other species. The mean (SD) WBC count was 5.1 (2.0) x 10(9)/L. There was an age-related significant difference in the mean WBC counts (t=2.000, p or =5-years group [5.0 (1.8) x 10(9)/L]. No significant difference was observed with regard to gender and malaria infection. The mean (SD) parasite densities of P. falciparum obtained using the assumed value of 8.0 x 10(9)/L [1936 (1119.5)] was significantly higher than the parasite densities estimated using the individual WBC counts [1140 (862.8) for P. falciparum] (p