Gender Based Variations of Haematological Parameters of Patients with Asymptomatic Malaria in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

The study was done to evaluate the variations of haematological parameters of patients with asymptomatic malaria based on gender. The study is a cross-sectional study among asymptomatic malaria patients and patients who are apparently healthy individuals. The subjects were selected using a well-structured questionnaire who were age and sex matched. This study was conducted on asymptomatic malaria patients and apparently healthy individuals in the Oda Road area of Akure, Ondo State. Two hundred (200) asymptomatic malaria patients, 100 subjects each for males and females were recruited for this study. 5ml of venous blood was collected from each participant into an EDTA bottle which was then used for the determination of full blood count and Malaria. The results showed increase in PCV (p=0.000), RBC (p=0.000), Hb (p=0.000) and no significant difference in WBC (p=0.180), LYM (p=0.841), GRAN (p=0.986), MID (p=0.395), MCV (p=0.111), MCH (p=0.191), MCHC (p=0.791), Plt (p=0.959) when compared between male and female respectively. The study showed increase in packed cell volume, haemoglobin and red blood cells of male compared to females of asymptomatic malaria patients. There were no variations in other haematological parameters studied. The changes in the red cell line may be associated to bone marrow activity difference in the patients and effects of hormonal difference on the males and females.