Assessment of Body Mass (Weight Loss/Gain) in a 14 Day Clinical and Parasitological Responses to Supervised Antimalarial Drug Combination Therapies in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State
Authors
I.M. Ikeh*, Department of Zoology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State
O.O. Odikamnoro, Department of Applied Biology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki
V. O. Okonkwo, Department of Zoology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State
*Correspondence: Ikeh, I.M., e-mail: drifeanyiikeh2@yahoo.com; Tel. 08037457581
Received: 14 June 2021; Accepted: 24 July 2021; Published 30 September 2021
How to Cite
Ikeh, I., Odikamnoro, O., & Okonkwo, V. O. (2021). Assessment of Body Mass (Weight Loss/Gain) in a 14 Day Clinical and Parasitological Responses to Supervised Antimalarial Drug Combination Therapies in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. Tropical Journal of Applied Natural Sciences (TJANS), 3(2), 20–25. https://doi.org/10.25240/tjans.v3i2.4
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.
Keywords: Malaria, Diarrhoea, Anorexia, P. falciparum, Weight potentials
DOI: https://doi.org/10.25240/tjans.v3i2.4