Malaria is an acute and chronic
mosquito-borne disease of man characterized by chills and fever, anaemia,
splenomegaly and damage to other organs such as the liver and the brain. Malaria is known to man since centuries as a
disease of tropical and subtropical countries particularly Africa and Asia (Snow et al., 2005).
Despite advances in knowledge, malaria
continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide (Kathryn et al., 2004). The disease is one of
the most prevalent
human infections in the world. Over 40%
of the world’s populations live in malaria-endemic area and it is estimated
that 515 million cases and 1-3 million deaths occur each year, especially among
young children in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Mortality rate is usually high (20%) in severe malaria (parasitemia >
5%) (Snow et al., 2005).
Malaria is primarily transmitted through
a vector (female anopheles mosquito) that feed on human blood. However, it can also be transmitted by the
transfusion of any blood component containing infected red blood cells. This was first reported by Woosley in
1911. Transfusion malaria in nonendemic
areas rarely occurs, but may become a common complication of blood transfusion
in endemic areas. The plasmodium species implicated in transfusion malaria are P. falciparum, P. vivax, P.ovale and P.
malariae. It has been discovered
that malaria parasites of all these species can remain viable stored in blood
for at least one week. For instance, P.
falciparum malaria has been transmitted by blood stored for 19 days (De
Silva et al., 1988).
The frequency of post transfusion
malaria has been estimated to vary from less than 0.2 cases per million in
nonedemic countries to 50 or more cases per million in endemic countries (Bruce
– Chwatt, 1982). For children with
severe, symptomatic anemia, it is now recognized that an urgent blood
transfusion is life saving (English et
al., 2002). In non malarious areas, transfusion malaria causes delay in
diagnosis and has relatively high fatality rate particularly in pregnant women
and in splenectomized or immune-compromised patients (Kark, 1982).
Gumodoka et al, (1997) working in Tanzania, reported that up to 50%
blood transfusion could have been avoided.
Often, what is not considered is that the risk of transfusion may
outweigh the benefits, since blood transfusion continue to be a major source of
preventable HIV infection and other transmissible infections (Odaibo et al., 2008). These risks are often not
detected due to poor heamovigilance in this country and Africa
in general. Usually; blood is not often screened for malaria parasite prior to
transfusion in Nigeria. It is not yet known to what extent this
practice may have contributed to the prevalence of malaria since no study have
been carried out to determine post-transfusion malaria in Nigeria.
This study is therefore aimed at determining
the risk of transfusing blood not screened for malaria parasite to anaemic
patients in Ebonyi state.
Aims/Objectives
·
To determine the risk
of transfusion malaria in Ebonyi state.
·
To determine the
presence of malaria parasite (Plasmodium
species ) in donated blood specimen
in parts of Ebonyi
State
·
To determine the
relationship between prevalence of malaria parasite among blood donors and
socio-demograhic factors (e.g. age, sex, location and occupation) in the State.
Pathogenesis of Malaria Parasite Infection
The Impact of Malaria
General Distribution of Malaria
The Transmission of Malaria Parasite
The Plasmodium Life Cycle
Aetiology of Malaria Infection
Historical Perspective of Malaria
GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO MALARIA IN NIGERIA (AFRICA)
RECOMMENDATIONS: economic resources in Nigeria
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION OF ROCKS IN NIGERIA
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