In spite of malaria being widespread and a major cause of maternal and infant mortality in the country, it is still being misdiagnosed as Typhoid.

Dr Bukunmi Kolade, a consultant gynaecologist with the Vine Branch Medical Center, Ibadan, said this had prevented people from getting proper and accurate treatment.

Kolade says malaria, which remains the commonest infection in this part of the world and the number one killer in children under the age of five, is still wrongly diagnosed as typhoid, which is not as common as conceived.

“The truth of the matter, however, is that many illnesses that are treated as typhoid are actually malaria.

“I can tell you that in the last 10 years I have seen just two typhoid cases and people who have typhoid are usually very sick,” he said.

The consultant described the Widal test, which is the most requested laboratory investigation, as an inaccurate method for estimating the likelihood of a typhoid infection.

“The test only shows previous exposure to typhoid and out of 10 people diagnosed with typhoid; the likelihood is that only one actually has typhoid.

“In other words, if I have typhoid six years ago the result will still come back positive today,” he said.

Kolade also bemoaned the situation whereby patients contribute to wrong diagnosis by affirming they have typhoid by bringing their own test results to their doctors.

“This is not helping the situation and there is no doubt that the faults are from both sides,” he said.

He said that there was a need to properly sanitise the health sector with regards to the diagnosis and treatment of typhoid and malaria to help reduce the number of deaths caused by malaria.

He disclosed that the lack of adequate information on the use of the newly recommended Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) in the treatment of malaria infection has also contributed to its burden.

“The varied claims by people that ACT is losing its efficacy are untrue, because people are not taking the anti-malaria drug as it should be taken.

“Many people tend to complain of malaria symptoms even after they had completed the recommended dosage of the anti-malaria drug because they used it the wrong way.

“Unlike Chloroquinne, ACTs, which are currently the mainstay of recommended treatment for malaria, should be taken with or after a fatty meal to ensure that the drug is properly absorbed.

“You see someone that has malaria taking this drug with soft drinks that has no fat and this prevents the efficacy of the drugs,” he said.

He, therefore, advised taking ACTs with fatty foods like milk, yoghurt, beans and ice cream, adding that the fat content of the African diet is adequate to achieve its effectiveness.

Kolade urged health practitioners on ensuring they provide their patients with adequate information on the use of ACTs, prevention of the abuse of anti-malaria drugs leading to anti-malaria resistance.

The consultant also called for concerted effort in the control of malaria during pregnancy