Tropical Journal of Applied Natural Sciences Trop. J. Appl. Nat. Sci., 3(2): 20-25 (2021) ISSN: 2449-2043 https://doi.org/10.25240/tjans.v3i2.4 Published as part of the 1 st Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences (FBMS) Scientific Conference Papers Published by: IPS Intelligentsia Publishing Services Available online: https://tjansonline.com Assessment of Body Mass (Weight Loss/Gain) in a 14 Day Clinical and Parasitological Responses to Supervised Antimalarial Drug Combination Therapies in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State Ikeh, I.M. 1,3* , Odikamnoro, O.O. 2 and Okonkwo, V.O. 1 1 Department of Zoology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State 2 Department of Applied Biology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki 3 Public Health and Environmental Research Group (PUHEREG) C/o Dept of Applied Biology, Ebonyi state University Abakaliki. Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka.. *Corresponding Author’s E-mail: drifeanyiikeh2@yahoo.com; Tel.: 08037457581 1. INTRODUCTION alaria is a disease due to blood infection caused by Protozoa parasites of the genus Plasmodium (P.) which is transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquito (Ani et al., 2015). The global incidence of malaria was estimated to be nearly 120 million clinical cases each year with nearly 300 million carrying the parasite (WHO, 2014). As presence of the parasite in the body builds up to the asexual erythrocyte Schizontal stage, the accompanying increase in body temperature induces urinary excretion of nitrogen increases predisposing to negative nitrogen balance (Vaughan et al., 2017). The result of this increased synthesis and catabolism of proteins is the loss of body tissue which becomes apparent when infections are severe and prolonged hence affecting the body mass (Najm et al., 2012). This further compromises host integrity by enhancing susceptibility to other infective pathogens, thus, deteriorates nutritional status due to increasing metabolic stress. The increased risk of malaria parasitaemia in pregnant women and especially in primagravidae in areas of high malaria endemicity, compared with that of non-pregnant women was well described by Michael et al. (2013) and Peter et al. (2013). According to Chukwuocha et al. (2012), maternal anaemia may also have a direct effect on placental functions, causing low birth weight (LBW). The birth weight deficits in association with placental malaria are also influenced M ABSTRACT Malaria has considerable potential for adversely influencing host nutrition. It can restrict food intake through anorexia while causing vomiting or diarrhea, it may interfere with the absorption of ingested food. This survey was however conducted to ascertain the impact of the Plasmodium falciparum malaria attack on the weight potentials of the sufferers treated with Diaminopyrimidines (Pyrimethamine) and Sulphonamides (Sulfadoxine) Out of 243 patients studied in Abakaliki, the age groups 10-19 (48.6%), 20-29 (30.0%), 30-39 (12.8%), 40- 49 (5.8%), and 50-59 (2.9%) showed average weight loss/gain of ± 1.4, ±0.3, ± 0.6, and± 0.2 respectively for both males, and females. The corresponding weight loss/gain between D0-D7 showed 10 ≤ 20: D0-D2 (-0.1), D2-D7 (+0.7), 21≤ 30: D0-D2 (- 0.3), D2-D7 (+ 0.2); 31 ≤ 40: D0-D2 (0.0), D2-D7 (+0.2);41 ≤ 50: D0-D2 (- 0.1), D2-D7 (- 0.1),51≤ 60: D0-D2 (0.0), D2-D7 (+ 0.2).The result of increased catabolism of proteins and associated weight loss in severe malaria attack should be regained by nutritional sufficiency. . Original Research Article Received: 14 th Jun, 2021 Accepted: 24 th Jul, 2021 Published: 30 th Sept, 2021 Keywords: Malaria Diarrhoea Anorexia P. falciparum Weight potentials 20