To study the correlation between blood groups and malaria

Abstract

Background: Malaria is a major national health problem with considerable morbidity & mortality & has long been eluding our efforts for an effective control. The clinical features of malaria vary from mild to severe & complicated acceding to species of parasite present & patient’s immunity. Malaria continues to pose major public health threat in India, particularly due to plasmodium falciparum which is prone to complications.Objectives•To know whether there is a correlation between A, B, O blood groups and malaria, also to study the particular blood group frequencies in malaria patients.•To determine if any particular blood group confers some degree of protection against malaria or its complications and also to look for any sex predilection.Materials and Methods: 150 patients admitted to MVJ Medical College and Research Hospital, Bangelore, clinically suspected to have malaria were confirmed with relevant investigations, fulfilling the study criteria were analysed. statistically. the duration of the study was from October 2017 to September 2018.Results: Out of 150 patients, 92 (61.3%) were males and 55 (38.7%) were females with maximum incidence 15-34 years 'B' (39 patients 26%) was commonest blood group in all types of malaria. Vivax malaria was common in all blood groups. Falciparum eases were more in blood group 'O' (21.4%). Blood group A had maximum number of complicated cases (45.5%). Blood group 'B' had maximum number of recurrent attacks.Interpretation and conclusion: Malaria was more common in middle aged males, maximum complications were seen in blood group A'. Vivax malaria was the commonest in all blood groups. Maximum number of malaria patients were in blood group B.