Muhammad Fahimul-haq, Tazeem Shahbaz, Shama Akram, Sadia Mahmood, Nakhshab Choudhry.
Malaria: Assessment on Haematological Basis.
Pak J Med Health Sci Jan ;7(3):733-5.

Aim: To see effects of malaria on platelet count and haemoglobin in adults suffering from malaria. Design: Descriptive study. Setting: Arif Memorial Hospital Lahore. Period: April 2011 to March 2013. Methodology: Adults patients admitted with fever of less than seven days duration who had positive smear for malaria parasite were included in the study. After detailed history and thorough examination, patients were investigated to find out the cause of fever. All the patients with localizing cause for fever and history of drug (Anti malarials) intake were excluded. All patients were investigated with complete blood counts and serial peripheral smears for malarial parasite. Peripheral blood smear examination for malarial parasite was taken as gold standard for the diagnosis of malaria. Cut off value for low hemoglobin (anemia) was taken as 10gm/dI and platelet count of less than 150x109/L, was used to define thrombocytopenia. Patients with thrombocytopenia were divided in to three categories. Mild thrombocytopenia was defined as patients with platelet count of <50x1O9/L to >150x109 /L, moderate thrombocytopenia included patients with platelet counts of <20x1 09/L to >50x109/L. Results: A total of one hundred smear positive patients were analyzed, out of which 91% had low and 9% had normal platelet count. 95% had Vivax and only 5% had Falciparum malaria. Mean platelet count was 93x1 09/L. Mean platelet count in Falciparum was 54x1 09/L whereas it was 98 x10s/L in vivax malaria. Sixty eight(68%) patients had anaemia. Mean haemoglobin was 9.20gm/d1. Mean Hb in Falciparum malaria was 8.00 gm/dl in Vivax it was 9.40gm/dl. Conclusions: Higher frequency of mild to moderate thrombocytopenia and anaemia was observed in hospitalized adult patient suffering from malaria.

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