Enteric fever also known as typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella typhi, is a disease that is endemic in the tropic and sub-tropic regions of the world and has become a major public health concern in the developing world with an estimated annual incidence of 540 cases per 100,000 patients. Malaria parasitaemia which is caused by Plasmodium falciparum and transmitted by female anopheles mosquito is a leading cause of febrile illness among low-income and poor sanitary environments. The study was aimed at comparing the prevalence of symptomatic malaria and symptomatic typhoid fever in Bayelsa State. This research was carried out in Federal Medical Center in Bayelsa State, Molecular research Laboratory in Niger Delta University and Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Bayelsa State in Nigeria. Samples were collected from both febrile and non-febrile patients in Bayelsa State. A total of one thousand (1000) subjects recruited for this study, blood samples were collected in the selected areas of Bayelsa State and samples of febrile and nonfebrile patients attending Federal Medical Center and Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri were examined. Sample processing for this study included blood film for malarial parasites, Widal test using blood sample for both Tube and Tile Method, the results revealed the prevalence of both malarial parasitaemia and typhoidal antibodies (co infection) was 51(51.7%) Females had a higher percentage of co-infection than males 32(5.7%) and 19(4.3%) respectively. This study also revealed that of the 205 febrile patients screened, 175 (85%) were positive for malaria parasitaemia, whereas 15(7.4%) were positive for typhoidal antibodies. This shows that malaria is more likely to cause fever than typhoid, although both share rage in their symptomatology. In conclusion, this study revealed a strong relationship between malaria and typhoidal antibodies as both share some social circumstances and diagnostic symptomatology. Efforts must be made to confirm the diagnosis by paired sera investigation more than is presently the case.

Keywords: Typhoidal Antibody, Malaria Parasitaemia, Salmonella typhi, Typhoid fever, Co-infection, Bayelsa State