The Clinical Effects of Intestinal Parasites and Malarial on People Living with HIV/AIDS within Makurdi Metropolis

Abstract

Parasitic infection has been implicated to have some effects on the packed cell volume, white blood cell count and CD4 counts of the infected person. This research was conducted to determine the effect of intestinal parasites and Malaria on some blood parameters of people living with HIV/AIDS within Makurdi metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria. Four hundred (400) blood and stool samples of people living with HIV/AIDS were collected from 45 NAF Base Hospital Makurdi and Bishop Murray Hospital Makurdi and examined for intestinal parasites and malaria infections between the months of September and December 2014. Formal-ether concentration technique was used for the stool examination; the thick film was prepared for blood examinations. The packed cell volume, white blood cell count and the CD4 count of the sampled population were also determined respectively. The parasitic infections found was Malaria (Plasmodium falciparum) (46%).This was followed by Taeniasis (Taenia solium) (13%), Amoebiasis (Entamoeba histolytica) (8%) and Hookworm disease (4%). The Packed Cell Volume, White Blood Cell Count and CD4 determined were compared with the World Health Organization standard. Packed Cell Volume (χ2 Cal= 111.407 df 3, P˂0.05), White Blood Cell Count (χ2 Cal= 121.662 df 3, P˂0.05) and CD4 count (χ2 Cal= 175.311 df 2, P˂0.05). The prevalence rate of intestinal parasite and Malaria is high among people living with HIV/AIDS within Makurdi Metropolis.