Hematological and temperature profile in micronutrient based combination therapy of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in under five’s

Abstract

This study was conducted to elucidate the influence of some selected antioxidant micronutrient 
combination on hematological parameters in the course and therapeutics of malaria in early childhood. 
150 participants (6 months to 5 years) diagnosed with uncomplicated falciparum malaria were recruited 
for the study from two Health Centres in Ekpoma, Edo State Nigeria, after obtaining ethical clearance 
from the ethical review Board of the Edo State Ministry of Health. The participants were randomized into 
15 cohorts of 10 patients each. Additionally, 20 apparently healthy volunteers were used as control for 
the hematological parameters assessed. The patients in the active comparator group were administered 
with oral doses of standard artemisinin based combination therapy, while the interventional cohorts 
were administered varying combinations of antimalarials (Artesunate or Amodiaquine) and 
micronutrients (vitamin A, E, zinc and selenium). A comparative analysis between the total white blood 
cell (WBC) count on day 0 and day 28 post treatment revealed a significant increase in all the 
micronutrient treated groups on day 28 (p<0.05; r = 0.76; P<0.01). In addition, there was a negative 
correlation between the parasite density, packed cell volume (PCV) and hemoglobin concentration in 
the study population (r = -0.102; P >0.01; r = -0.08; P>0.01 respectively). Conclusively, the use of varying 
bi-combination of antioxidant micronutrients as adjuvants to standard antimalarial agents has 
immunomodulating potential that may be of benefit in malaria therapeutics.