Clinical and Laboratory Profile of Hospitalized Malarial Patients: An Agra-Based Study.

OBJECTIVE: The clinical presentations and laboratory profile of malaria has been changing over the years. Therefore this study was undertaken to study the clinical profile and laboratory parameters of malarial patients. METHODS: This prospective observational study was undertaken in military hospital with high prevalence of malaria. A total of 320 patients were studied. All patients tested positive by peripheral blood smear or rapid diagnostic test were included. Clinical presentations, hematological and biochemical parameters were noted. RESULTS: Of the total 320 patients, 249 had P vivax, 43 had P falciparum and 28 had mixed malaria.79% patients were male. Maximum (51.56%) patients were in 21-30 age group. The mean duration of symptoms was 2.54 days in vivax to 3.03 days in mixed malaria. Fever was observed in 97.8% of patients of vivax. Thrombocytopenia was observed in 99% of all patients. Splenomegaly was noticed in 24.84% patients of vivax and 34.5% of falciparum malaria. Herpes labialis was observed in 23.64% patients of vivax and 5.94% had urticaria. CONCLUSIONS: High index of suspicion should be maintained in picking up the diagnosis. Any patient with thrombocytopenia, leucopenia, headache, herpes labialis, pain epigastrium and urticaria deserves exclusion of malaria.