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Abstract Background Haemoglobinuria is one of the manifestations of severe malaria and results from severe intravascular haemolysis. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency has been implicated in its aetiology. Haemoglobinuria may be associated with severe anaemia and, less frequently, acute renal failure. Methods A prospective case-control study was carried out to determine the incidence of haemoglobinuria as confirmed by dipstick urinalysis, microscopy and spectrophotometric measurement, among children with severe malaria. A total of 251 children presenting at the Children’s Emergency Ward with severe malaria were recruited over a period of 21 months. The G6PD status and the outcomes of severe malaria in children with and without haemoglobinuria was studied with respect to renal failure, the recurrence of haemoglobinuria and blood pressure changes over a three-month follow-up period. Results It was found that the incidence of haemoglobinuria among children with severe malaria is 19.1%. Children Conclusions Haemoglobinuria was a prominent feature of severe malaria and it was significantly associated with jaundice at presentation. Haemoglobinuria was commoner in older children than younger children but not related to sex. G6PD deficiency was not an independent predictor of the occurrence or outcome of haemoglobinuria. Blood pressure was not affected by haemoglobinuria on admission nor during follow-up.

Anti-HBc screening and nucleic acid testing for hepatitis B viral DNA (HBV DNA) detection in blood donors are not routinely performed in clinical settings in Nigeria. This raises serious concerns for safety of blood at a time that global health standards advocate for transfusion safety. The aim of this research is to investigate if presence of anti-HBc in blood donors is actually associated with occult hepatitis B infection through basic and advanced procedures. Prospective blood donors who were seronegative for HBsAg but sero-positive for anti-HBc (with or without other markers) among the four hundred and seventy enrolled in a cross-sectional study were selected for this study. Samples were further screened for hepatitis B core immunoglobulin M by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Nucleic acid testing was performed for confirmation of occult hepatitis B infection. Anti-HBc was detected in 20 (32.8%) of the sixty-one HBsAg antigen-negative blood donors which constituted 13.0% of the total number of enrolled blood donors. Anti-HBc total-positive differentiation showed eighteen (90.0%) anti-HBc (IgG) and two (10%) anti-HBc (IgM) were detected. Nucleic acid testing showed 5.0% prevalence of occult hepatitis B infection among the anti- HBc-positive blood donors with estimated HBV DNA viral load of 58 IU/ml. Demonstration of 5.0% occult hepatitis B prevalence showed the possibility of post-transfusion hepatitis B infection in transfusion recipients with consequent possible liver damage should hepatitis B surface antigen alone be the continued practice in clinical settings. The inclusion of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen screening in addition to hepatitis B surface antigen marker is an essential step to ensuring optimal blood safety and prevent post-transfusion hepatitis. Key words: anti-HBc, isolated, Occult hepatitis B, risk factor, seropositivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]