EFFECT OF MALARIA ON VISUAL ACUITY (V.A)

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the prevalence and effect of malaria on visual acuity (V.A) in relation to age, sex and the level of parasitaemia in patients visiting the University of Benin Health Centre. The research was accomplished by examination of blood films of the patients for presence of malaria and measuring the visual acuity (V.A) and palpebral apertures of the patients. A total of 1,000 patients were examined to determine their visual acuity and palpebral aperture after confirmation of malaria parasite in their blood films. Both parameters were again measured after a two-week- recovery period and on a confirmation of the absence of malaria parasite in the blood film of the patient. Five hundred (500) patients served as control. The result showed a malaria prevalence rate of 32% with no sex predilection. Malaria had a statistically significant effect on visual acuity (t=21.22, p<0.05). The result also revealed that the effect of malaria on the patient‘s visual acuity was dependent on the age (r=0.373, p<0.05) and the sex of the subject (t=3.41, p<0.05). Also the level of parasitaemia had a significant effect on the patient‘s V.A (rs=0.485, p<0.05). There was also a statistically significant effect of malaria on the palpebral aperture (t=3.15, p<0.05). The study demonstrated clearly that poor visual acuity is a symptom of malaria disease and deteriorates with increase in parasitaemia and increase in age of the subject and also that the males are more affected than the females