PLATELET COUNT IN MALARIA PATIENTS
Abstract
Background: Malaria is a major health problem in the tropics with high morbidity and mortality.This study is conducted to analyse the effects of malaria on platelets. Methods: This prospectivestudy was conducted on 200 diagnosed cases of malaria in Department of Medicine, LUMHS,Jamshoro/Hyderabad from February to December 2010. The diagnosis of malaria was carried outby thin and thick blood films. Platelet count was performed using an automated counter.Thrombocytopenia was classified as mild (50–150103 cells/µl), moderate (20–50103 cells/µl)and severe (<20103 cell/µl). Results: The age of patients ranged from 16 to 80 (28±10.5) years,median age was 30 years. Among the study population, males were 124 (62%) and females were76 (38%). Out of them 105 (52.5%) were cases of Plasmodium falciparum, 93 (46.5%) were of P.vivax, and 2 (1%) were of P. malaria. The data showed that 171 (85.5%) patients were having lowplatelet count; 141 (70.5%) had mild, 21 (10.5%) moderate, and 9 (4.5%) had severethrombocytopenia. Twenty-nine (14.5%) patients had normal platelet count. Conclusion: Malariais associated with different degrees of low platelet count with rarely increased bleeding tendency.Keywords: Malaria, Falciparum, PlateletsReferences
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