Assessment of Malaria Parasitic Density Using Microscopic Techniques as Screening Method among Pediatric Patients in Kano State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Malaria continues to be a serious health issue, especially for children in high-risk areas like Kano, Nigeria. Correctly measuring malaria parasite levels is key to proper diagnosis, treatment, and disease management. This study examines how reliable microscopy is as a method for checking malaria parasite density in children aged 0–14 years at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano. Blood samples were taken and analyzed using Giemsa-stained smears to count parasites. The results showed that 57% of the patients had low-level infections (+), 28% had moderate levels (++), and 15% had high levels (+++). These findings confirm that microscopy is an affordable and widely available diagnostic tool in places with limited resources. However, some challenges remain, such as differences in how well operators perform the tests, sensitivity variations, and the risk of misidentifying low-level infections. These issues highlight the need for additional diagnostic options like rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and molecular methods. This study reinforces the importance of microscopy in monitoring malaria and guiding treatment, especially for children at risk of severe cases.