Frequency of Plasmodium Falciparum in Patients Having Uncomplicated Malaria

Abstract

Background: Malaria which is potentially life threatening disease that is spread by protozoan parasites. Malaria yet remains to be a important public health concern among most of the endemic regions of world. There are 5 most common human species of plasmodium referred as “Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. knowlesi, and P. malariae” which can spread the disease.  The major complications are caused by P. falciparum and P. vivax, with P. falciparum being the more virulent. This study was conducted to determine the frequency of plasmodium falciparum among patients with uncomplicated malaria in our population. Objective: To determine the frequency of Plasmodium falciparum in patients with uncomplicated malaria. Study Design: Descriptive, Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Medicine, Nishtar Hospital, Multan. Results: Of these study cases, 93 (56.4 %) were male patients while 72 (43.6%) were female patients. Mean age of our study cases was noted to be 35.52 ± 10.39 years. Majority of our study cases i.e. 101 (61.2%) were from rural areas while 64 (38.8%) were from urban areas, 129 (78.2%) were poor and 65 (39.4%) had positive history of using anti – malarial drugs. Mean duration of disease was 4.37 ± 2.82 days and majority of our patients i.e. 107 (64.8%) had disease duration up to 5 days. Plasmodium falciparum was diagnosed in 36 (21.8%) while plasmodium vivax was diagnosed in 129 (78.2%) patients.Conclusion: High frequency of plasmodium falciparum was noted in our study, among patients with uncomplicated malaria. Plasmodium falciparum was significantly associated with female gender and previous use of anti–malarial drugs.

Keywords: plasmodium falciparum, malaria, plasmodium vivax,.