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Thrombocytopenia: A Predictor of Falciparum Malaria at Tertiary Care Hospital

2 Abstract: The aim of the present work was to evaluate frequency of thrombocytopenia in the hospitalized malaria patients. Hospital based prospective study from August 2010 to January 2011 was conducted at medical units of the tertiary care center of Liaquat University of patients with acute febrile illness without localizing signs were considered for the study. Peripheral smear examination for malarial parasite was taken as a standard for the diagnosis of malaria. Those with positive MP were then included in the study. Hematological parameters were determined by using automated analyzer. Those with reduced platelet count were re-evaluated with manual method. A total of 256 patients were subjected for malaria testing during the study period. One hundred and twenty (120) patients had a positive peripheral smear. One hundred two (85%) were P. falciparum positive and 18 (15%) were P. vivax positive. Eighty four (70%) patients had thrombocytopenia. Ninety (75%) were male and thirty (25%) female. The mean age was 42±6 years. Eighty (95%) patients with thrombocytopenia were P falciparum positive and only 4 (5%) patients had vivax malaria. Thrombocytopenia was mild in 18 (21.4%) patients, moderate in 58 (69%) and severe in 08(9.6%) patients. The frequency and severity of thrombocytopenia observed in hospitalized patients should alert the possibility of malarial infection. In these cases P falciparum was found to be the common species and P vivax less common species.