Effects of Malaria on Selected Liver Function Profiles of Children in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

A cross sectional investigation of the effects of malaria infection on selected liver function profiles of children in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, was conducted. Exactly 1000 randomly selected children aged 1-10 years were involved after institutional ethical clearance and informed consent from their parents were obtained. Exactly 694 of the children, who were malaria positive represented the test group while 306 children apparently healthy, formed the control group. About 10 ml of blood was collected from each child through venopuncture with hypodermic syringe; 4 ml was dispensed into EDTA bottle for Plasmodium identification while 6ml each, was dispensed into lithium bottle for liver function tests. Thick and thin blood films were giemsa stained. Total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubin, unconjugated bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase and albumin were assayed using standard biochemical techniques. Malaria prevalence was 69.4%; age group 1-5 years was significantly (P<0.05) more infected (39.7%) than age group 6-10 years (29.7%).Total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubin, unconjugated bilirubin and aspartate aminotransferase were significantly elevated (P<0.05) in malaria subjects.There was a statistically significant (P<0.5) reduction of albumin levels in tests than in the controls. Àmong high malaria parasitaemic subjects, total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubin, unconjugated bilirubin, and aspartate aminotransferase were more elevated significantly (P<0.05) than those of low parasitaemic subjects. These significant changes in these parameters suggest that malaria parasitaemia has significant negative effects on the integrity and functions of the liver which may lead to mortality if ignored.