Malaria: Epidemilogy and herbal treatment options in some selected areas of Central region of Ghana

Abstract

Incidence of malaria in the Central Region of Ghana was investigated to determine age group and sex vulnerability as well as the parasite species distribution, haemoglobin status of patients and herbs used in treating the disease. Four Hospitals were used as study centers namely, Cape Coast District Hospital and the University of Cape Coast Hospital constituting the coastal zone; Saint Francis Xavier Hospital at Assin Foso and Our Lady of Grace Hospital at Breman Asikuma forming the forest zone. Microscopic examination of thin blood smears of the patients examined revealed high malaria incidence rates of 34.4% and 26.9% of coastal zone and forest zone respectively. Generally, children up to 10 years old and females were more vulnerable to the disease. In the forest zone, older females were more vulnerable. Plasmodium falciparum was the most prevalent malaria parasite (>90%) infecting people in the region. Few cases of P. malariae, P. ovale and mixed infection of P. falciparum+ P. malariae were recorded. P. vivax was not encountered. The most predominant erythrocytic stage identified was trophozoites (92.1 %) and few (7.9%) gametocytes and schizonts observed. The haemoglobin levels of patients decreased with increase m parasitaemia and subsequently anaemia with haemoglobin levels <llg!dL. A total of 89 plant species distributed into 41 families was documented as anti malaria plants in the region. Among these, 60 species in 36 families were mentioned for the first time as anti malaria plants. All the plants recorded in this study were reported to be abundant except one species.