FREQUENCY OF THROMBOCYTOPENIA IN PATIENT WITH MALARIA PRESENTED TO KHYBER TEACHING HOSPITAL PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Background:
Malaria is a fatal infectious disease which  is associated with numerous complications and has a profound effects on the blood indices. Thrombocytopenia is frequently reported among the patients with malaria though it is not an indication of the severity of the disease.

Objective:

The aim of the current study is to observe the hematological changes particularly the incidence of thrombocytopenia among the patients with malaria presented to the Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar.

Methodology:

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Medicine Department of Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar from August 2018 to February 2019. A total of 95 malaria parasite (MP) positive cases were included in the study. The patients’ demographic details and the hematological variables were recorded. Data was analyzed using SPSS Version 20.0.

Results:

Among 95 MP positive patients, 88 had Plasmodium vivax infection while 7 patients were suffering from Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Moreover, 89 (93.6%) were found to have thrombocytopenia with majority having grade 1 thrombocytopenia (52.6%). while leukopenia was seen among 29.5% of the cases and only 5.3% presented with leukocytosis. The level of Hb

was normal in majority of the cases and only 27.4% had Hb<11.5g/dl.

Conclusion:

Thrombocytopenia is a common hematological finding among the patients suffering from malaria. Our study findings favor the diagnostic implications of thrombocytopenia as an indicator of acute malaria.