Abstract

The levels of kidney function parameters were estimated in children infected withPlasmodium falciparum malaria to determine its association with renal impairment. Apparently healthy children with no malaria infection were included as the control subjects. 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 control values. The relationship between parasitaemia density 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 to the control. Children within 1 - 5 years of age had higher parasitaemia density (8677.48 ± 3241.82 /µL) than those between 6 - 12 years of age (4881.72 ± 872.36 /µL). These children (1 - 5 years) had higher levels of serum urea (6.44 ± 0.36 mmol/L), serum creatinine (126.88 ± 12.24 µmol/L) and protein in urine (28.07 ± 2.66 mg/dl) when compared with children between 6 - 12 years (serum urea = 5.27 ± 0.91 mmol/L, serum creatinine = 123.76 ± 4.32 µmol/L and protein in urine = 19.64 ± 3.91 mg/dl). The result suggested that renal impairment was associated with malaria infection.

Key words: Children, Plasmodium falciparum, renal function.