Abstract
Malaria has considerable potential for adversely influencing host nutrition. It can restrict food intake through anorexia while causing vomiting or diarrhea, it may interfere with the absorption of ingested food. This survey was however conducted to ascertain the impact of the Plasmodium falciparum malaria attack on the weight potentials of the sufferers treated with Diaminopyrimidines (Pyrimethamine) and Sulphonamides (Sulfadoxine) Out of 243 patients studied in Abakaliki, the age groups 10-19 (48.6%), 20-29 (30.0%), 30-39 (12.8%), 40-49 (5.8%), and 50-59 (2.9%) showed average weight loss/gain of ± 1.4, ±0.3, ± 0.6, and± 0.2 respectively for both males, and females. The corresponding weight loss/gain between D0-D7 showed 10 ≤ 20: D0-D2 (-0.1), D2-D7 (+0.7), 21≤ 30: D0-D2 (- 0.3), D2-D7 (+ 0.2); 31 ≤ 40: D0-D2 (0.0), D2-D7 (+0.2);41 ≤ 50: D0-D2 (- 0.1), D2-D7 (- 0.1),51≤ 60: D0-D2 (0.0), D2-D7 (+ 0.2).The result of increased catabolism of proteins and associated weight loss in severe malaria attack should be regained by nutritional sufficiency.
Highlights
Malaria is a disease due to blood infection caused by Protozoa parasites of the genus Plasmodium (P.) which is transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquito (Ani et al, 2015)
The increased risk of malaria parasitaemia in pregnant women and especially in primagravidae in areas of high malaria endemicity, compared with that of non-pregnant women was well described by Michael et al (2013) and Peter et al (2013)
The drugs were only given when the patient tested positive to malaria infections, while malaria negative persons were excluded from the study
Summary
Malaria is a disease due to blood infection caused by Protozoa parasites of the genus Plasmodium (P.) which is transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquito (Ani et al, 2015). As presence of the parasite in the body builds up to the asexual erythrocyte Schizontal stage, the accompanying increase in body temperature induces urinary excretion of nitrogen increases predisposing to negative nitrogen balance (Vaughan et al, 2017). The result of this increased synthesis and catabolism of proteins is the loss of body tissue which becomes apparent when infections are severe and prolonged affecting the body mass (Najm et al, 2012). The increased risk of malaria parasitaemia in pregnant women and especially in primagravidae in areas of high malaria endemicity, compared with that of non-pregnant women was well described by Michael et al (2013) and Peter et al (2013)
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