GRANUNOLOCYTIC RESPONSES TO PARASITAEMIA OF PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM SPECIES IN CHILDREN (6-59 MONTHS) ATTENDING BULUMKUTU COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CENTER, MAIDUGURI, BORNO STATE – NIGERIA

This study was conducted to assess the influence of Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia on eosinophil and neutrophil in children (6-59months), at Bulumkutu Comprehensive Health Centre, Maiduguri, Bono State, between August to December 2018. A total of 210 children were enrolled in the study which consisted of 88 (41.90%) patients with positive P. falciparum malaria and 122 (58.10%) negative malaria. Hematological parameters were analyzed using sysmexhaematology auto-analyzer (2011), while the Giemsa stained slides thick and thin blood films were prepared from the stock solution, and tested for Plasmodium falciparum malaria and count of malaria parasite density. This study indicated that there was a positive correlation between parasite densities and granulocytes (neutrophil and eosinophil) of the malaria-infected subjects, as well as malaria infected males and females subjects respectively. (r2 = 0.63 5, p = 0.005), (r2 = 0.5 10, p = 0.005), (r2 = 0.602, p = 0.005), (r2 = 0.504, p 0.005), and (r2 = 0.890, p = 0.001), (r2 = 0.623, p = 0.005).