Abstract
Introduction: Few studies are available as regards status of platelets in malaria in paediatric patients. Objectives: To correlate factors such as age, type of malaria species and degree of parasitaemia with the degree of thrombocytopenia and to correlate the mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width with the malaria species. Method: A prospective observational study was conducted on patients 1 to 17 years of age admitted to the department of paediatrics of a tertiary level hospital from January 2014 to November 2014 with a history of acute fever (less than 5 days) and peripheral blood smear positive for malarial parasites with the rapid diagnostic test. A detailed history and examination of the patients along with the demographic profile was entered in the predesigned proforma. Automated Coulter haematology analyser (Abacus) was used for investigations. The data was analysed by SPSS 16 statistical analysis. Comparison among three groups of continuous data was done using a One-way ANOVA, whereas data not conforming to normal distribution were compared by a Kruskal-Wallis Test. Categorical data were compared using Pearson Chi-Square Test. Results: There were 105 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Of them, 60% had vivax malaria, 33% had falciparum malaria and the rest had mixed malaria. Thrombocytopenia was present in 85%, severe thrombocytopenia ( Conclusion: Thrombocytopenia was present in 85% of patients, the degree of thrombocytopenia correlating significantly with the degree of parasitaemia and the type of malaria. The MPV but not the PDW correlated significantly with the type of malaria species. (Key words: Malaria, thrombocytopenia, rapid diagnostic test, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width). Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health , 2016; 45 (2):107-110 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/sljch.v45i2.8117
Highlights
Few studies are available as regards status of platelets in malaria in paediatric patients
Thrombocytopenia was present in 85%, severe thrombocytopenia (
The platelet count significantly correlated with the type of malaria and the degree of parasitaemia
Summary
Few studies are available as regards status of platelets in malaria in paediatric patients. India accounts for about 50% of the 2 million reported cases of malaria in the World Health Organization South-East Asia Region[1]. About 80% cases of malaria reported in India are confined to areas comprising 20% of the population residing in tribal, hilly, difficult and inaccessible areas[2]. Haematological abnormalities such as anaemia, thrombocytopenia and leucocytosis or leucopenia have been observed in patients with malaria[3]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
