The structure and function of liver in malaria

The functional and structural changes in the liver in the 21 patients with acute attack of falciparum malaria were studied in the medical units of the DSGH. A notable but not highly significant relationship was found between the changes. A diagnostic criteria for the recognition of the entity "Malaria Hepatitis" is proposed.

Incidence of anaemia among malaria patients admitted to D.S.G.H Mingaladon

During a period of 3 months 356 patients 11 (320 males and 28 females) admitted to Defense Services General Hospital Medical Wards who were positive of Malaria parasites were studied. There was 310 (287 males and 23 females) cases of falciparum malaria and 46 (41 males and 5 females) cases of vivax malaria. Hb, PCV and T & DC estimations were done on day 1, 7, 14, 28 respectively whenever possible. 85.6 per cent of the patients with falciparum malaria and 71.7 per cent of the patients with vivax malaria had anaemia. The incidence of anaemia among all malaria cases was 84.2 per cent. In our study age ranged from 10 to 49 years, mean age being 26.01 years. There was male preponderance with sex ratio of 1:10. Among the malaria cases 66.3 per cnet of the patients had asexual malaria parasites in their blood and these patients were divided into 4 groups according to their parasite density. Plus 1 parasite density group consisted of 22.4 per cent of the patients with falciparum malaria and 2.7 per cent of the patients with vivax malaria. Plus 2 parasite density group consisted of 23.9 per cent of the patients with fatciparum malaria and 8.5 per cent of the patients with vivax malaria. Plus 3 parasite density group consisted of 19.6 per cent of the patient with falciparum malaria and 6.6 per cent of the patients with vivax malaria. Plus 4 parasite density group consist of 13.7 per cent of the patients with falciparum malaria and 1.2 per cent of the patients with vivax malaria. There was leucopenia in 12.8 per cent of the patients and leucocytosis in 8.5 per cent of the patients. Relative monocytosis was found in 11.4 per cent of the patients. 78.7 per cent of the patients had leucocyte counts within normal limits. There was no correlation between anaemia and parasite density in patients with low parasitemia rate. But in patients with high parasitemia rate there was a negative correlation between anaemia and parasitemia rate. There was no correlation between anaemia and frequency of attack. In patients with haemoglobin concentration between 13 G per cent and 8 G per cent no symptoms attributable to anaemia were found. But symptoms were common among patients having haemoglobin concentration less than 8 G per cent. In all cases with anaemia 8 per cent of patients required blood transfusion. This being a pilot study no attempts had been made to find the aetiologic type of anaemia, it possible cause, and the necessary management.