Can hematological parameters discriminate malaria from nonmalarious acute febrile illness in the tropics?
Artigo
em Inglês
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-68683
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Malaria is considered as the main differential diagnosis of acute febrile illness in the tropics, and alteration of various hematological parameters has been observed in patients with malaria.AIM:
To ascertain if certain hematological parameters increase the probability of malaria in patients with acute febrile illnesses. SETTINGS ANDDESIGN:
Hospital based, prospective cohort study. METHODS ANDMATERIAL:
All consecutive in patients with fever of less than seven days in duration were included in the study. Patients where localizing cause for fever could be determined were excluded. Hematological parameters (Hemoglobin, Red cell distribution width (RDW), Leukocyte count, and platelet counts) were determined by using automated counter, and peripheral smear examination for malarial parasite was taken as gold standard for the diagnosis of malaria. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED Diagnostic accuracy was measured by computing sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and likelihood ratios. The precision of these estimates was evaluated using 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS ANDCONCLUSIONS:
A total of 184 patients were included in the study and 70 (38%) had a positive peripheral smear for malarial parasite. Thrombocytopenia alone (platelet countless than 150,000/mm3) was a predictor for malaria (Sn 60%, Sp 88%, LR+ 5.04) and in combination with anemia (Hb < 10 g/dl) it was next best parameter (Sn 69%, Sp 74%, LR+ 2.77). RDW and leukocyte count were not predictive. The conclusion of this study is that the presence of thrombocytopenia in a patient with acute febrile illness increases the probability of malarial infection.
Texto completo:
DisponíveL
Índice:
IMSEAR (Sudeste Asiático)
Assunto principal:
Contagem de Plaquetas
/
Clima Tropical
/
Feminino
/
Humanos
/
Masculino
/
Hemoglobinas
/
Doença Aguda
/
Valor Preditivo dos Testes
/
Sensibilidade e Especificidade
/
Malária Vivax
Tipo de estudo:
Estudo diagnóstico
/
Estudo observacional
/
Estudo prognóstico
Idioma:
Inglês
Ano de publicação:
2004
Tipo de documento:
Artigo
Similares
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS