Influence of Gender on Some Red Cell Indices, L-Arginine and D-dimer in Malaria Parasite Severity amongst Children Resident in Rivers State, Nigeria

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the influence of gender on malaria parasite severity in children resident in Rivers State, Nigeria. Study Design: The study was cross-sectional observational study. Place and Duration of Study: University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State, Nigeria, between the month of March and August 2020. Methodology: A total of 822 pediatrics (0-16 years), were randomly selected for this study after due parental consent. 5ml of venous blood was collected from each subject: 1ml was dispensed into paediatric EDTA (for haematologic and parasite density) and 4 ml into sodium citrate bottle for L-arginine assay by ELISA-method, while Full blood count was determined using haematological auto-analyser, Mindray BC-6800. Malaria density was determined by microscopic method using thick and thin Giemsa stained blood smears. Level of significance was set at P