DETECTION OF MALARIA AND TYPHOID FEVER CO-INFECTION AMONG FEBRILE PATIENTS ATTENDING SPECIALIST HOSPITAL SOKOTO, SOKOTO STATE

Abstract

Malaria and enteric fever infection co-exists in tropical region of the biosphere due to prevailing climatic conditions and poor hygiene practice. This work was aimed to determine the prevalence of malaria and typhoid fever co-infection among febrile patients attending Specialist Hospital Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria. Data on the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the study participants were obtained through structured questionnaire and diagnosis was done using venous blood sample obtained from the participants. Blood smear was used for analysis of malaria parasites while widal test was used for the analysis of enteric fever. Total of 286 patients were enrolled for the study (137 females and 149 males), 65(22.73%) had malaria and typhoid fever co-infection. The prevalence of malaria and typhoid fever co-infection was highest among those in the age group ˃ 60 years (71.4%). A substantial association exist in the malaria-typhoid fever co-infection between the age groups at (x2 = 22.19, p <0.05). Malaria and enteric fever infection co-exists in tropical region of the biosphere due to prevailing climatic conditions and poor hygiene practice. The present study revealed that both malaria and typhoid fever remain diseases of concern among individuals in the study area. Therefore, to reduce the burden of malaria and/ or typhoid fever in the area, strategies for the prevention and control of malaria should be fully employed. In addition, there is the need for government to step up policies aimed at improving sanitation, providing social amenities such as safe water supplies, and mass literacy campaigns to increase people’s awareness of the available preventive measures such as the consistent use of insecticide-treated nets.