Parasitemia and Hematological Alterations in Malaria: A Study from the Highly Affected Zones

Background& Objectives: Inspite of intensive worldwide efforts to reduce its transmission, malaria remains the most serious and widespread protozoal infection of humans. It is a protozoan disease transmitted by the bite of infected female anopheles mosquito. Malaria has long featured prominently in the grey area between parasitology and hematology. This study has been performed to evaluate various hematological alterations in patients infected with malaria and to add more detailed information, especially from these highly affected zones. Materials and methods: A two-year, hospital-based study was conducted and hematologic profiles of 200 persons infected with malaria (Plasmodium vivax or Plasmodium falciparum) infection, were examined and the results were compared with standard normal values. Results: One-hundred-ninety-six patients were infected with Plasmodium vivax, three with Plasmodium falciparum, and one was infected with both. Patients with parasitemia tended to have significantly lower platelets, hemoglobin, white blood cell and red blood cell counts, blood indices and hematocrit than normal. Thrombocytopenia is identified as a key indicator of malaria in these febrile patients. Conclusion: Anemia and thrombocytopenia are the classical changes. Changes in the white blood cells are less dramatic, may vary due to variable size and type of cases, variability of the species, and geographical differences.