Speciation and blood cell parameters in 481 cases of malaria in Nawabshah

This study was conducted in Pathology department of Peoples Medical College for girls, Nawabshah to determine the relative incidence of plasmodium and blood cell parameters in patients suffering from malaria during 1991 to 1992. Blood samples were collected from patients admitted in hospital or referred from out patient clinics for investigation of febrile illness. Four hundred eight-one men. Women and children reported positive for malarial parasite in their peripheral blood film. Their haematology was assessed. Plasmodium falciparum was the most common malarial parasite [64.5%] followed by plasmodium Vivax [34.3%] P. malariae [0.41%], while mixed infection was found in 0.83% of cases. All patients showed a lower than normal haemoglobin, red cell count and haematocrit value; These were significantly lower in patients with plasmodium falciparum falciparum infection than with plasmodium Vivax. The MCV, MCH, MCHC, Platelets count and white cell count were not significantly disturbed. This study shows that there is higher prevalence of plasmodium falciparum, so accurate speciation is essential towards preventing morbidity and mortality as Plasmodium falciparum causes a much more severe form of malaria. The haematological are changes corresponding with the changes occurring in hemolytic anaemias. These changes were more pronounced in plasmodium falciparum infection