31 Journal of Research in Medical and Dental Science | Vol. 10 | Issue 2 | February 2022 Experiencing Malaria Earlier Aggravates the COVID-19 Symptoms Senol Dane 1* , Murat Akyuz 2 1 Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria 2 Department of Business Administration, Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria ABSTRACT Introduction: In the present study, the effects of the frequency of experienced malaria and flu/cold on the symptom severity in patients with COVID-19 were investigated. Materials and Method: Subjects were those who experienced COVID-19 and recovered. Eighty-one subjects were included in the study. All of them were voluntarily to participate in this study (51 men and 30 women). Out of 81 cases, 48 were expat and 33 were Nigerian. Data was collected by using an online survey. The survey was shared by using social media. Results: The number of symptoms and overall symptom severity were higher in people with 2 or more malaria than in people with 1 or zero malaria in the last year. However, there is no difference between people with 2 or more flu and people with 1 or zero flu. Conclusion: These results show that to have malaria disease before aggravates COVID-19 symptoms. Therefore, it can be stated that malaria is additional risk factor for COVID-19. Precautions to decrease malaria infections in Nigeria can be beneficial to decrease COVID-19 cases and deaths of COVID-19. Key words: Malaria, Flu, Cold, COVID-19 HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Senol Dane, Murat Akyuz, Experiencing Malaria Earlier Aggravates the COVID-19 Symptoms J Res Med Dent Sci, 2022, 10 (2):31-35. Corresponding author: Senol Dane e-mail: senol.dane@nileuniversity.edu.ng Received: 02-Feb-2022, Manuscript No. JRMDS-22- 41547; Editor assigned: 04-Feb-2022, PreQC No. JRMDS-22-41547 (PQ); Reviewed: 18-Feb-2022, QC No. JRMDS-22-41547; Revised: 21-Feb-2022, Manuscript No. JRMDS-22-41547 (R); Published: 28-Feb-2022 INTRODUCTION The very 1st case of COVID-19 infected in Nigeria was recorded on March 10, 2020. With a constant increment in numbers, all tertiary educational institutions were closed with an order of the Ministry of Education by March 20, 2020, and the government announced the initial lockdown of big cities on March 30, 2020 [1]. Psychological stress due to COVID-19 pandemic can result in fear and worry among people about their health and financial conditions. It can also cause changes in eating patterns, sleeping problems, concentration difficulties, and exacerbation of chronic health problems, mental health conditions, usage of tobacco, alcohol, and other substances [2]. The current pandemic-related coping strategies may harm mental health, such as decreased well-being and increased depression and anxiety symptoms [1,3], insomnia, and anger [4-6]. Also, inactivity due to COVID-19 disease can have a negative effect on physical and mental health and coping with stress and anxiety during isolation time [7,8]. Besides, there were some negative lifestyle changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic [9]. Furthermore, the fairly big changes in food consumption preferences were reported [10]. Also, in another study, there was a significant decrease in family incomes and a significant increase in family expenditures during the pandemic outbreak [11]. Also, Nigerian women entrepreneurs experienced the negative effect of COVID-19 outbreak on their businesses [12] and there was a negative effect of COVID-19 on the performance (growth) of small businesses in Nigeria [13]. A wide range of symptoms are found in COVID-19 patients, ranging from mild/moderate to severe, rapidly progressive, and fulminant disease. Symptoms of COVID-19 are non-specific and disease presentation can range from asymptomatic to severe pneumonia. Incidence of asymptomatic cases ranges from 1.6% to 51.7% and these people do not present typical clinical symptoms or signs and do not present apparent abnormalities in lung computed tomography [14-19]. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, Journal of Research in Medical and Dental Science 2022, Volume 10, Issue 2, Page No: 31-35 Copyright CC BY-NC 4.0 Available Online at: www.jrmds.in eISSN No. 2347-2367: pISSN No. 2347-2545