Abstract:
Background: Worldwide, malaria is a major health problem
having high morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis
and treatment prevents complications. The laboratory
diagnosis of malaria mainly includes microscopic study of
peripheral smear. In the present study, thrombocytopenia
and alteration in hematological parameters was observed in
malaria infected patients.
Study design: Retrospective case study and review of
literature.
Methods: Seventy five cases of peripheral smear proven
malarial infection, common species being plasmodium
vivax (n= 66) and nine cases of plasmodium falciparum
were included in this study. Clinical features, peripheral
smear and hematological parameters including hemoglobin
concentration, total leukocyte count, platelet count and
mean platelet volume of all the patients were collected and
studied.
Results: Thrombocytopenia was the most common
abnormality noted in 71 (94.66%) of 75 cases. Among those
who were infected by P. falciparum, one case had severe
thrombocytopenia while eight (88.88%) had moderate
thrombocytopenia. In case of P. vivax infection four (06.06%)
patients had severe thrombocytopenia while 51(77.27%) had
moderate degree of thrombocytopenia. An increase in mean
platelet volume was seen in 19 vivax infected cases (28.78%).
Anemia was present in 5 cases of P. falciparum and 25 cases
of P. vivax infection. Leucopenia was observed in four and
23 cases of P. falciparum and P. vivax respectively.
Conclusion: In the present study, malaria infection by
P. vivax was more common than P. falciparum species.
Thrombocytopenia, leukopenia and anemia were commonly
observed hematological abnormalities noticed amongst the
study population. A finding of thrombocytopenia and anemia
in a febrile patient should raise the suspicion of malaria hence
further specific tests can be employed for confirmation.
