PLATELET COUNT IN MALARIA PATIENTS

Authors

  • Mumtaz Ali Shaikh
  • Shakeel Ahmed
  • Inayat Ullah Diju
  • Dur -E- Yakta

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 prospective
study 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 out
by thin and thick blood films. Platelet count was performed using an automated counter.
Thrombocytopenia was classified as mild (50-150ï‚´103 cells/µl), moderate (20-50ï‚´103 cells/µl)
and severe (<20ï‚´103 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 were
76 (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 low
platelet count; 141 (70.5%) had mild, 21 (10.5%) moderate, and 9 (4.5%) had severe
thrombocytopenia. Twenty-nine (14.5%) patients had normal platelet count. Conclusion: Malaria
is associated with different degrees of low platelet count with rarely increased bleeding tendency.
Keywords: Malaria, Falciparum, Platelets

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Published

2011-03-01

How to Cite

1.
Shaikh MA, Ahmed S, Diju IU, Yakta D-E-. PLATELET COUNT IN MALARIA PATIENTS. J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad [Internet]. 2011 Mar. 1 [cited 2025 Jul. 7];23(1):143-5. Available from: https://jamc.ayubmed.edu.pk/index.php/jamc/article/view/2630

Issue

Vol. 23 No. 1 (2011): JOURNAL OF AYUB MEDICAL COLLEGE, ABBOTTABAD

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

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