Socio-demographic characters, clinical profile and laboratory parameters in malaria cases due Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax: A comparative study

Abstract

Background: As per recent research patients with severe Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax develop similar disease manifestations. Objectives: To compare the sociodemographic characters, clinical profile, and laboratory parameters of cases of malaria due to P. falciparum and P. vivax species. Methodology: Study design: Record-based retrospective study; study settings: Hospital based; study subjects: Records of malaria patients admitted to a tertiary care teaching hospital during 2009-2010. The malaria patients were categorized as P. falciparum and P. vivax malaria cases. The sociodemographic factors, clinical profile, and laboratory parameters of P. falciparum and P. vivax malaria cases was evaluated. Statistical analysis: Percentages, proportion, and χ2 test. Results: A total of 111 malaria patients' records were studied. Twenty-five (22.52%) cases were due to P. falciparum and 86 (74.48%) cases were due to P. vivax. There was no difference observed in sociodemographic characters of P. falciparum and P. vivax malaria cases. Most of the common symptoms were similar in P. falciparum and P. vivax malaria cases. Splenomegaly was common in P. vivax cases, while hepatomegaly was common in P. falciparum cases. 18 (72%) P. falciparum cases and 50 (58.14%) P. vivax cases had thrombocytopenia. Severe anemia was present only in P. falciparum cases. Among other laboratory parameters, there was not much difference observed. Conclusion: There was not much difference in sociodemographic characters, clinical profile, and laboratory parameters of P. falciparum malaria or P. vivax malaria.