Descriptive Study of the Hematological Parameters with Special Reference to the Total Leucocyte and Platelet Count in Cases of Malaria in all age Groups

Abstract

Introduction & Aim: To study variation of haematological parameters in different species of malaria with special reference to the total leucocyte and platelet count. Methods: This study was conducted in a Tertiary Health Care Centre, from June 2010 to June 2012. All positive cases of malaria proved on peripheral blood smear in both IPD and OPD patients were included in our study and all cases negative for malaria were excluded. Results: During this study, 119 positive cases of malaria were found in all OPD and IPD patients. In these, 74 cases (62.2%) were of Plasmodium vivax, 35 cases (29.4%) were mixed infections and 10 cases (8.4%) were of Plasmodium falciparum. Amongst the positive cases the ring forms of Plasmodium vivax, mixed infection & Plasmodium falciparum were 56(47.1%), 35(29.4%) and 4(3.4%) respectively. Out of the 109 pure vivax and mixed infection cases, the number of cases showing amoeboid forms were 14(11.8%). Cases of immature schizont were 75(63%) and mature schizont were 17(14.3%). The gametocytes of Plasmodium vivax, mixed infections & Plasmodium falciparum in our study were 5(17.9%), 2(7.1%) and 21(75%) respectively. Mean & Median platelet count in our study was 1,05,075/cumm & 90,000/cumm respectively. The mean platelet count was found significantly lower in cases of P. vivax having gametocyte compared to P. falciparum with gametocyte. Higher parasitic index was associated with lower platelet count.