EVALUATION AND COMPARISON OF HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS BETWEEN VIVAX AND FALCIPARUM MALARIA

Abstract

Malaria is a widely prevalent parasitic disease caused by the Plasmodium species. The parasite mainly infects the erythrocytes and causes various hematological abnormalities like anemia, thrombocytopenia and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Aim: To evaluate and compare the hematological parameters between vivax and falciparum malaria. Settings and design: A cross sectional, prospective study in the hospital laboratory. Materials and methods: Blood samples from 889 febrile patients were tested for malaria by the rapid malaria antigen detection test and peripheral blood smear study. The hematological investigations included study of platelet counts, white and red blood cell counts, hematocrit, hemoglobin and red blood cell indices using an automated cell counter. Results: Out of the 889 patients screened, 81 patients tested positive for malaria. Fifty four patients (66.67%) had P.vivax infection, while 22 (27.16%) were infected with P.falciparum and five (6.17%) had mixed infection. Thrombocytopenia was seen in 95.06% patients. All five patients who had mixed infection, 96.29% of vivax malarial patients and 90.90 % of patients with P.falciparum had thrombocytopenia. Anemia was seen in 34 cases (41.97%). Conclusion: Though commonly reported in falciparum malaria, thrombocytopenia and anemia occur in P.vivax infection also.Significant changes in P. falciparum infection were relative increase in neutrophil differential count, fall in lymphocyte differential count and hematocrit when compared to vivax malarial infection. Finding of thrombocytopenia may help in increased rate of detection of malaria.