Abstract:
Background: Malaria and helminthiasis are the two most epidemiologically co-existed infections and they cause for child co-morbidity in Africa. Few earlier studies in Ethiopia had also indicated co-morbidity of these infections. However, the rate of co-infection and related outcomes of malaria helminthiasis co-infection is not widely addressed in endemic countries.
Objective: To determine malaria, intestinal helminthes, co-infection and its outcome among febrile children suspected for malaria at Sanja Health Center, Northwest Ethiopia, 2015.
Method: A Cross-sectional study was conducted from February-April 2015 among febrile children at Sanja Health Center. Thick and thin blood films stained with Giemsa solution and slides were read under a light microscope using 100 × oil immersions. Similarly, Kato Katz concentration technique was used for confirmation and quantifying of ova in the stool. Data was analyzed by SPSS version 20 and software. Socio-demographic characteristics were summarized with descriptive tables. Bivariate, multivariate analysis was used to determine statistical association. p<0.05 was considered as statistically significant.
Result: A total of 357 study participants were participated, their mean age was 9.54 years. Among this 53% (190) were female. 70% were positive for malaria, P.falciparum was the leading followed by P.vivax 72.8%, 25.6% respectivey . 87.4% for intestinal helminthes and 62.18% co-infected by malaria intestinal helminthes. S.mansoni 56.3%, it is predominant, H.worm 12%, A.lumbricoid 10.6%, H.nana 4%, E.vermicularis 0.84%, and Taenia species 0.84%, T.tricuria 0.56%. Females were predominately affected by malaria and intestinal helminthes 54% (135), 53% (165) respectively. Malaria significantly associated with age, family size, insecticide treated bed net number and family income. Helminthes infection also associated with latrine, latrine usage. Anemia and malnutrition prevalence were high.
Conclusion: Malaria, intestinal helminthes and co-infection are major health problem in Sanja district. This finding showed that there is an association between malaria with age, Family size, insecticide treated bed net number and intestinal helminthes with latrine and latrine usage. Even though there was no statistical significant association, besides anemia and malnutrition were relatively high in co-infection.
