ABSTRACT
Background: Malaria is a numero-uno infectious, killer disease in the developing world including India. This disease is caused by Plasmodium parasitic species with mosquitoes acting as vectors of transmission. Hematological tests include RBC, WBC and platelet parameters, peripheral blood examination which change based on parasitaemia need to be evaluated in various malaria affected regions to get prompt malarial diagnosis. Prompt diagnosis leads to prompt treatment avoiding troublesome malarial complications. Objectives: The present observational cross-sectional study was undertaken to estimate the Hematological profile in malaria cases diagnosed in a tertiary care hospital of Konkan region, Maharashtra. Methods: All the patients referred to Hematology section, Department of Pathology with malaria were evaluated with clinical details. The data was collected from 1st January 2017 to 31st December 2020 for three years’ duration. Total malarial cases studied were 50 cases. CBC/ PBS examination was done on EDTA blood sample. The RBC parameters, WBC parameters and platelet counts were studied with respect to malarial parasitaemia. Parasite index was found on smear and malarial diagnostic confirmation was also done using rapid kit test. All the findings were filled in MS-Xcel sheet 2010 and data was analyzed manually. Results: Malaria caused by P.vivax was predominant in present study. Patients in age range of 15-30 years were more affected in present study, that is, younger people were affected. Male predominance was seen. Fever was most common presenting symptoms followed by chills and rigor in present study. Hb, RBC count, PCV – showed that anemia was more common hematological change in present study, as these values were lower than normal level. Red cell indices like MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW and peripheral blood smear revealed all the values in a normal range showing normocytic normochromic RBCs in the present study. Patients with malaria having normal TLC followed by leucopenia were more common in present study. Thrombocytopenia was most common hematological change seen in present study. Conclusion: Hematological parameters are measurable indices of blood that serve as a marker for malarial diagnosis.