EVIDENCE OF EMERGING ARTEMETHER RESISTANT FALCIPARUM MALARIA INFECTION IN BENIN METROPOLIS .

ABSTRACT

One of the biggest causes of death in Nigeria is Malaria, there were about 214 million cases of malaria in 2014, which has resulted in four hundred and thirty eight thousand (438,000) deaths globally. Malaria parasites are developing resistance to newest medications which limits the effectiveness of several antimalarial medications which has led to increase in malaria cases. This study was carried out to evaluate the evidence of emerging Artemether resistant Falciparum malaria infection in Benin metropolis. The specific objective was to determine the effect of Artemether resistant Falciparum malaria infection on Full Blood Count (FBC) before treatment and after treatment with Quinine. 100 patients were examined for this study, after treatment with Artemether, patients still exhibited symptoms of malaria. Full Blood Count test (FBC) and Malaria parasite test were performed. There was significant difference before treatment in the Packed Cell Voulme (PCV), White Blood Cell (WBC) but there was no significant difference in the Neutrophils, Eosinophils and Lymphocytes when compared with after treatment and Control. This shows there is emerging Artemether resistant falciparum malaria infection in Benin Metropolis. More Research on antimalarial drug resistance should be carried out and alternative drugs should be developed to decrease the rise of resistant Falciparum malaria infection.