Assessment of Renal Function of Plasmodium falciparum Infected Children in Owerri, Eastern Nigeria

The levels of kidney function parameters were estimated in Plasmodium falciparum malaria infected children. About 45 children with P. falciparum infection were selected based on clinical symptoms. About 15 apparently healthy children with no malaria parasitaemia were included as the control subjects. P. falciparum malaria and kidney function parameters (serum urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, chloride and protein in urine) were determined using standard procedures. It was observed that the levels of serum urea, serum creatinine and protein in urine were significantly higher in infected children when compared with the respective control values. The relationship between malaria parasitaemia and serum urea were negatively correlated (r = -0.44) but serum creatinine (r = 0.61) and protein in urine (r = 0.47) were positively correlated. There was no significant change in serum electrolytes levels in the infected subjects compared the controls. Children within 0-5 years of age had higher malarial parasitaemia (8677.48±3241.82 μL-1) than those between 6-12 years of age (4881.72±872.36 μL-1) and these children had higher levels of serum urea (6.44±0.36 mmol L-1), serum creatinine (126.88±12.24 μmol L-1) and protein in urine (28.07±2.66 mg dL-1) when compared with children between 6-12 years (serum urea = 5.27±0.91 mmoI L-1, serum creatinine = 123.76±4.32 μmol L-1 and protein in urine = 19.64±3.91 mg dL-1). The result suggests that there is a form of renal impairment associated with malaria infection in children in Owerri, Eastern Nigeria.