CLINICAL PROFILE, COMPLICATIONS AND OUTCOMES OF PATIENTS HAVING MALARIA

Dr. Smarajit Banik; Dr. Saikat Datta

Volume : VI, Issue : X, October - 2016

CLINICAL PROFILE, COMPLICATIONS AND OUTCOMES OF PATIENTS HAVING MALARIA

Dr. Smarajit Banik, Dr. Saikat Datta

Abstract :

Background: Malaria, one of the oldest diseases known to mankind, can have a variety of clinical pictures, from acute to chronic, and from simple fever to life threatening multiple organ failure. The clinical picture differs with the species of parasite involved. Objective: To study the different clinical features and complications following malaria due to different parasites. Methodology: A hospital based cross sectional study was conducted among 213 patients admitted with malaria, between April 2014and March 2016 in the medicine wards of a tertiary care hospital of eastern India. In all cases a detailed clinical history and repeated thorough physical examination were carried out which was followed by blood smear (thick and thin) and subsequently required routine and special investigations as dictated by the condition and presentation of the patient. Results: Among the study population, 94 had confirmed Plasmodium vivax, 89 had infection with Plasmodium falciparum and the rest (30) had dual infection with both Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum. The proportion of nausea/ vomiting and headache was significantly higher among patients with confirmed Pl.falciparum alone. Severe anaemia and hypoglycaemia were significantly higher in patients with mixed species infection Conclusion The present study has revealed that mixed species malaria with multi organ involvement is potentially fatal disease with a very high mortality. However, larger studies will be needed to judge the extent of complications.