Plasmodium vivax Density and Haematological Profiles of Malaria Patients from North India- A Hospital-Based Prospective Study

Introduction: Malaria, the vector borne disease still remains one of the most deadly infections for many continents.

Aim: This hospital-based prospective study was conducted to correlate the Plasmodium vivax parasitic load with the haematological parameters of malaria patients.

Materials and Methods: A total of 200 patients of Acute Undifferentiated fever (AUF) were enrolled and screened for Malaria by microscopy of Peripheral blood smear (PBS) and Rapid malarial antigen test (RMAT). The parasitic load of the Plasmodium vivax infection was classified into low, moderate and high parasitic counts and was further correlated with the haematological parameters.

Results: A total of 150 cases were diagnosed as Malaria positive. Of these 139 (92.7%), 10 (6.7%) and 1(0.6%) were classified as due to Plasmodium vivax, undifferentiated and Plasmodium falciparum infections respectively. The parasitic load of Plasmodium vivax was found to be low, moderate and high in 66 (47.5%), 67 (48.5%) and 6 (4%) cases respectively. It was observed that low and moderate parasitaemia were associated with moderate anaemia and thrombocytopenia which was statistically significant (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The correlation between the haematological parameters with the parasitic load, in patients with P. vivax malaria, may aid the clinicians to determine the severity of the illness.