COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CLINICAL AND LABORATORY PROFILE IN SPECIES SPECIFIC MALARIAL INFECTION: OBSERVATIONS FROM A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL FROM AN ENDEMIC REGION OF INDIA

Abstract

Background: Malaria continues to be an issue of public importance in Indian subcontinent. This study was conducted to observe the difference in hematological and hepato-renal profile in malaria patients affected by Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax and both the parasites admitted in the tertiary care hospital. As far as the authors are aware of this is the first study that attempted at understanding the clinical and laboratory profile to ascertain the difference in the clinic-pathogenesis from a malaria endemic region of India. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study conducted at a tertiary care hospital between January 2016 to July 2017. All patients aged above 18 years diagnosed with malaria were included in the study. The demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters were entered in Microsoft excel and subjected to statistical analysis. Results: A total of 262 patients were diagnosed with malaria during the study period. Majority of the patients were male (208, 79.39%) and patients of age between 18-30 years accounted for 82 (31.3%). Among the 262 patients, 93 (35.5%) were diagnosed with Plasmodium vivax, 85 (32.4%) mixed (P.vivax and P. falciparum) and 84 (32%) Plasmodium falciparum infection. In the present study, anemia, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia were seen among hematological parameters. The liver enzymes, total bilirubin were raised and total protein, S.albumin were reduced among the hepatic profile and raised Blood urea, S.creatinine and dyselectrolytemia were seen among the renal profile in the malaria patients. Conclusion: Malaria is known to cause heamato-hepato-renal dysfunction. In Mixed malaria, anemia and deranged hepato-renal parameters; in falciparum patients, lymphocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, and raised ALT; and in vivax patients, deranged granulocytes and various RBC volume were seen.