FULL BLOOD COUNT AND SELECTED TRACE ELEMENTS IN PATIENTS INFECTED WITH PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS ATTENDING INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITAL, IKOT EKPENE, AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA

Enosakhare Aiyudubie Asemota; Inyang Mfon Bassey; Christopher Ogar; Osamagbe Aiyudubie Asemota; Dennis Akongfe Abunimye; Emmanuel Ifeanyi Obeagu

doi:10.22270/ujpr.v11i2.1533

Enosakhare Aiyudubie Asemota Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
Inyang Mfon Bassey Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Infectious Disease Control Center, Ituk Mbang, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
Christopher Ogar Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
Osamagbe Aiyudubie Asemota Department of Pediatrics, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria.
Dennis Akongfe Abunimye Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
Emmanuel Ifeanyi Obeagu Division of Haematology, Department of Biomedical and Laboratory Science, Africa University, Zimbabwe. Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

10.22270/ujpr.v11i2.1533

Keywords:

Blood counts, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Nigeria, tuberculosis

Abstract

Background and Aims: Full blood counts and some trace elements were assessed in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infected patients attending Infectious Disease Hospital, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The rationale for the study was to assess and provide information on haematological parameters, zinc, copper and selenium of tuberculosis infected patients.

Materials and methods: Duration and use of drugs Mycobacterium tuberculosis therapy, age and gender were evaluated. Two hundred (200) subjects, aged 18-65 years comprising of 100 Mycobacterium tuberculosis infected patients on anti-tubercular, 50 drugs naive Mycobacterium tuberculosis infected subject and 50 apparently healthy non-infected patients who served as control subjects were recruited for this study. Informed consent was obtained from all the participants and questionnaires administered. Blood samples from subjects were assayed using

Results: Demographic characteristics showed more males (71%) being infected than females (29%). Married individual showed more preponderance. Those with secondary education were 42% and business men/women were 36.7%. Results showed significantly lower values (p<0.05) for RBC, haemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, Mean Cell volume, Mean Cell Hemoglobin and Mean Cell Haemoglobin Concentration in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infected patients with least values in drug naive Mycobacterium tuberculosis infected patients while total white blood cells and the differential white blood cells were significantly increased (p<0.05) in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infected patients when compared to the controls.

Conclusion: This study showed that tuberculosis had significant effects on haematological parameters and selected trace elements analyzed hence the need to consider supplementation to ameliorate anemia, zinc and selenium deficiencies.

Peer Review History:

Received 11 February 2026; Reviewed 7 March 2026; Accepted 13 April; Available online 15 May 2026

Academic Editor: Dr. Gehan Fawzy Abdel Raoof Kandeel, Pharmacognosy Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, 12622, Giza, Egypt, [email protected]