DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2019.v07i06.001

Pages: 269–275

Malaria and Typhoid fever are major public health problems in Tropical and Sub-tropical countries. Because of the high prevalence of malaria and typhoid fever in Nigeria, co-infections are common. This study investigated the prevalence of malaria and typhoid fever in febrile patients attending public health facilities in Kwali and Gwagwalada, Abuja. Venous blood sample was collected from 250 patients from each of the study populations, and these were analyzed using parasitological examination and serum agglutination (Widal) methods. Out of the 500 samples examined, the overall infection rates were 64% for malaria, 34.6% for typhoid and the co-infection, 12%. Chi square analysis showed that the infection rates were independent of gender (P> 0.05) T-test on relationship between infection rates recorded from both location in relation to age group showed that there is no significant difference between infection rates in the age groups from the two locations (P>0.05). The Pack Cell Volume of patients showed that 23% and 14.6% of malaria and typhoid fever patients were anemic (PCV<20%), while 9.6% and 18% of the infected patients had PCV greater than 40% (i.e. PCV>40%) respectively. T-test analyses showed there is no significant difference between co-infection and typhoid fever (P= 0.19), there is significant difference between co-infection and malaria (P= 0.04) and also between malaria and typhoid (P= 0.04) in relation to socioeconomic status of the patients. From the results of this study, it is obvious that there is a high prevalence of malaria parasite and typhoid infections and their co-infections in Kwali and Gwagwalada. To stem the infections and reduce the attendant morbidity will require public campaign to educate the public on the need to use Insecticide Treated Nets, keep their environment free of possible mosquito breeding sites and ensure that the level of personal hygiene of food handlers is optimally healthful.