BLOOD INDICATORS AND PERIPHERAL BLOOD COUNTS FOR MALARIA PATIENTS IN AL-HODEIDAH CITY, YEMEN

Jihan Ali Mohammed Al-Thamari; Khaled Abdulkareem Al-Moyed; Mohammed Abdulkader Al-Nuzaili; Ahmed Mohammed Al-Haddad; Hassan Abdulwahab Al-Shamahy

doi:10.22270/ujpr.v11i2.1530

Jihan Ali Mohammed Al-Thamari Laboratory Haematology and Blood Bank, The Yemen Council for Medical and Health Specializations, Ministry of Health and Environment, Republic of Yemen. Medical Microbiology and Clinical Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana’a University, Yemen.
Khaled Abdulkareem Al-Moyed Laboratory Haematology and Blood Bank, The Yemen Council for Medical and Health Specializations, Ministry of Health and Environment, Republic of Yemen. Medical Microbiology and Clinical Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana’a University, Yemen. University of 21 September for Medical and applied Sciences, Sana’a, Yemen.
Mohammed Abdulkader Al-Nuzaili Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana’a University, Sana’a, Yemen.
Ahmed Mohammed Al-Haddad Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hadhramout University, Al-Mukalla, Yemen.
Hassan Abdulwahab Al-Shamahy Laboratory Haematology and Blood Bank, The Yemen Council for Medical and Health Specializations, Ministry of Health and Environment, Republic of Yemen. Medical Microbiology and Clinical Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana’a University, Yemen.

10.22270/ujpr.v11i2.1530

Keywords:

Al-Hodeidah Governorate, anemia, complete blood count, malaria, Yemen

Abstract

Background aims: Malaria patients are particularly susceptible to anaemia, a prevalent health issue in developing nations. Human performance, growth, and development are negatively impacted by this condition, which can become more complex if comorbidity occurs in a holoendemic stratum with strong and persistent malaria parasite transmission, like the west coast region of Yemen. The purpose of the study was to ascertain the prevalence and severity of anaemia in malaria patients residing in a permanent malaria transmission area in Yemen's west coastal region. Changes in blood indicators and peripheral blood cell counts were also examined.

Subjects and Methods: This study included 250 newly diagnosed malaria patients from malaria control centres in Al-Hodeidah Governorate. The sixth version of the EpiInfo statistical software was used to collect and analyse blood parameters. The study's objectives and benefits were explained to the participants, and participation was entirely voluntary. The institution's ethics committee approved the study.

Results: The male patients accounted for 71.6% and the female patients were 28.4%, with the mean age of 28.8 years with an SD equal to 13.5 years, and ages ranged from 2 years to 58 years. Most of our patients were in the age group of 16-25 years (38%). The mean haemoglobin level in malaria patients was 11.5 mg/dl, and 14.4% of the patients were suffering from severe anaemia. Below-normal PCV in the patients was present in 23.6%; the mean RBC count was 4.5x1012/L, and a very low rate (3x1012/L) occurred in 7.2% of the patients. Leucopenia (< 4.5x10⁹/L) occurred in 28.4% of the patients, and neutropenia occurred in 14.4% of the patients.

Conclusions: Malaria, anaemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia were clearly evident in this study and pose serious public health challenges among the coastal population of Yemen. This emphasises the necessity of uniform policies, initiatives, and actions to stop anaemia and malaria in this area.