STUDY OF THROMBOCYTOPENIA IN MALARIA AND ITS CORRELATION WITH SEVERITY OF MALARIA: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract

Background: In poor resource countries malaria is still an important threat to public health. Role of hematological parameters mainly platelet count in acute malaria and its severity is not fully understood.

Aims and Objectives:  To study thrombocytopenia in Malaria and its correlation with Severity of Malaria.

Materials and Methods: Hundred confirmed malaria patients were studied at Department of Medicine, Gandhi Medical Collage from March 2015 to September 2016. After a details history taking, all the patients undergone a blood testing for the presence of confirmation on type of malaria infection. Based on the blood reports all the patients were divided in to those having P. falciparum infection, P. vivax infection and mixed type of infection. Thrombocytopenia was considered if platelet count was <75000 cells/mm³.a

Results: Mean age of the study participants was 38.42±16.21 years with male preponderance (68%). P. falciparum (46%) was the most common malaria type. The mean platelet count in P. vivaxmalaria was 114356 ?l with a range of 7000-467000/?l, as against P. falciparum malaria where the mean platelet count was 100212/ ?l with a range of 1800-356000/?l (p < 0.0001). The mean platelet count of mixed type of malaria was 98342 with range of 1500- 334800. Prevalence of thrombocytopenia was in 90% in study cohort which was 87% in P. falciparum and 92% in P. vivax patients 92%.

Conclusion: We found high prevalence of thrombocytopenia. Prevalence was predominant in both P. falciparum and P. vivax malaria. Platelet count has shown potential utility in identifying severe malaria.

Keywords: platelet count, thrombocytopenia, disease severity, falciparum malaria, vivax malaria