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International Journal of Tropical Medicine

ISSN: Online 1818-779X
ISSN: Print 1816-3319
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Effects of Electrolyte Levels on Pregnant Women with Malaria Parasitaemia: Findings from Academic Hospitals Enugu in South East Nigeria

Edwin N. Okafor, Innocent N. Okonkwo, Samuel O. Ebede, O. Obianyido, Doris E. Ezigbo and Pius O. Onyema
Page: 29-33 | Received 25 Sep 2022, Accepted 13 Oct 2022, Published online: 19 Oct 2022

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https://doi.org/10.36478/10.59218/makijtm.2022.29.33

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Abstract

Malaria is a life‐threatening parasitic disease transmitted through the bite of female anopheles mosquito, with Plasmodium faciparium being the major cause of deaths. Malaria has been reported to be associated with abnormalities of fluid, electrolyte and acid‐base balance. Electrolyte has been shown to be indispensible in water homeostasis, vital for the survival of humans. Reports on electrolyte levels in pregnant women with malaria parasitaemia have not being clearly elucidated in Nigeria. We investigated effects of electrolyte among pregnant women aged 18‐40 years with malaria parasitaemia who attended two academic hospitals in Enugu South East Nigeria from 1st May 2022 to April 2023. We analyzed electrolyte levels (Sodium (Na+), Potassium (K+), Bicarbonate (HCO3-), Chloride (Cl-) and Magnesium (mg+) among 100 Nigerian pregnant women diagnosed with malaria parasitaemia. They were divided into different age group: 18‐20, 21‐30 and 31‐40 years, respectively. Seventy apparently healthy age matched pregnant women without malaria infection were used as the control. The study revealed that the Mean±SD of Na+ (p = 0.001), K+ (p = 0.0001) and Cl- (p = 0.0001). significantly decreased in pregnant women with malaria parasitaemia compared with pregnant women without malaria parasitema. Comparison of different age groups shows significant difference (p<0.05) between the mean of test subjects and controls. This implies that there is lowering of sodium, Potassium and chloride ions in pregnant women with malaria parasitaemia. We suggest that pregnant women with malaria parasitaemia are the most vulnerable to complication in electrolyte deficits. Electrolyte should be monitored in this risk group to guide recommendation in management. This undermines the need to prevent complications which might result from electrolyte derangement.

How to cite this article:

Edwin N. Okafor, Innocent N. Okonkwo, Samuel O. Ebede, O. Obianyido, Doris E. Ezigbo and Pius O. Onyema. Effects of Electrolyte Levels on Pregnant Women with Malaria Parasitaemia: Findings from Academic Hospitals Enugu in South East Nigeria.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36478/10.59218/makijtm.2022.29.33
URL: https://www.makhillpublications.co/view-article/1816-3319/10.59218/makijtm.2022.29.33