Abstract
BackgroundThis study describes patterns of falciparum and vivax malaria in a private comprehensive-care, multi-specialty hospital in New Delhi from July 2006 to July 2008.MethodsMalarial morbidity by Plasmodium species (Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, or Plasmodium sp.) was confirmed using microscopy and antigen tests. The influence of seasonal factors and selected patient demographics on morbidity was evaluated. The proportions of malaria cases caused by P. falciparum at the private facility were compared to data from India's National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) during the same period for the Delhi region.ResultsIn New Delhi, P. faciparum was the dominant cause of cases requiring treatment in the private hospital during the period examined. The national data reported a smaller proportion of malaria cases caused by P. falciparum in the national capital region than was observed in a private facility within the region. Plasmodium vivax also caused a large proportion of the cases presenting clinically at the private hospital during the summer and monsoon seasons.ConclusionThe proportion of P. falciparum malaria cases tends to be greatest during the post-monsoon season while the proportion of P. vivax malaria cases tends to be greatest in the monsoon season. Private hospital data demonstrate an under-reporting of malaria case incidences in the data from India's national surveillance programme during the same period for the national capital region.
Highlights
This study describes patterns of falciparum and vivax malaria in a private comprehensive-care, multi-specialty hospital in New Delhi from July 2006 to July 2008
In order to help bridge this gap, this paper examines patterns of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum malaria based on data from a private comprehensive-care, multi-specialty hospital in Delhi for a 24-month period from July 2006 through July 2008
Because the focus is on malaria and the hospital that provided the data in the National Capital Region (NCR), it is reasonable to assume that the NCR is the primary catchment area
Summary
This study describes patterns of falciparum and vivax malaria in a private comprehensive-care, multi-specialty hospital in New Delhi from July 2006 to July 2008. Malaria is a serious public health problem in many developing countries, estimates of the number of malaria cases and deaths frequently have lacked sufficient accuracy for establishing reliable baselines against which to evaluate the success of control measures. Three factors affect whether routinely reported malaria data accurately reflect patterns in malaria in countries with surveillance programmes, even ones that have relatively good statistical services [1]. Information in routine surveillance systems may be incomplete. This may result in overestimates of reporting completeness thereby underestimating malaria patterns. Patients may use private health care facilities for treatment, especially in the South-East Asia region. Many malaria cases treated at private facilities are not included in the official statistics.
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