PROBING THE CLINICAL, LABORATORY, AND SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH MALARIA: RETROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: India is a nation where malaria is endemic with risk to the entire population and high malaria case fatality rates. NMEP (National Malaria Elimination Program) has helped reduce the mortality from malaria in India, however, mortality due to malaria related complication remain a concern. there are alarmingly high mortality rates from anemia in certain geographical regions. Aim: This study aimed to assess the clinical, laboratory, and sociodemographic factors associated with malaria from P. falciparum and P. vivax. Methods: The present retrospective record-based clinical study assesses records of subjects admitted to the Institute with malaria in the defined period of the study. The subjects with malaria were further divided into P. vivax and P. falciparum cases. In all the cases, the clinical, laboratory, and sociodemographic factors were assessed. Data gathered were analyzed statistically. Results: During the study period, 222 cases of malaria were assessed where 22.52% (n=50) and 77.43% (n=172) cases were due to P. falciparum and P. vivax respectively. There was no significant difference depicted in the sociodemographic data of P. vivax and P. falciparum cases. The most common clinical symptoms were similar in P. vivax and P. falciparum cases. Hepatomegaly was common in P. falciparum cases and splenomegaly in P. vivax cases. Thrombocytopenia was seen in 58.1% (n=100) and 72% (n=36) subjects with P. vivax and P. falciparum cases. No significant difference was seen in other laboratory parameters. Conclusions: Keeping the limitations, the present study concludes that clinical, laboratory, and sociodemographic factors associated with malaria from P. falciparum and P. vivax have no statistically significant difference.