Evaluation of Plasmodium Infestation and Malarial Complications among Pre-School Going Children in District Lower Dir, Pakistan

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to show Plasmodium species burden and symptoms consistent with malaria related complications among pre-school going children in North Western part of Pakistan (Timergara, Munda, Maidan, Samar Bagh and Talash). A total of 1312 blood samples were collected during winter, autumn and summer (2011), from males (808, 61.5%) and females (504, 38.4%). Microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) were used for the detection of plasmodium species. Questionnaires were also designed to collect information about the health conditions of malarial symptomatic children. Overall data revealed that 6.9% samples were infected, with Plasmodium vivax (96.7%), Plasmodium falciparum (2.1%) and mixed species (P. vivax and P. falciparum) (1.0%). Highest infection rate was recorded in autumn (2.87%) followed by summer (2.45%) and winter (1.73%). Among malaria symptomatic children symptoms like severe temperature (9.85%) lower RBS count (3.7%), Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6PD) deficiency (0.65%), respiratory distress (0.65%), neonatal sepsis (0.64%) and low birth weight (0.42%) were observed. Shortly malaria control efforts should be taken with an emphasis on improving species diagnosis and treatment availability in district Dir Lower.