Abstract

The aim of the study is to correlate clinical profile & laboratory parameters of Plasmodium vivax (Pv) and Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) malaria in paediatric patients. Chills &/or rigor was most common symptom associated with fever. Nausea & vomiting, pain in abdomen, headache, diarrhoea & cough were the next complaints in decreasing order. Results: Chills and/or rigors:- Chills and/or rigors was most common associated symptom with fever. It was present in 63% of patients with falciparum malaria and 59% of patients with vivax malaria. Nausea and Vomiting:- Nausea and vomiting was next frequent symptom after chills and rigor. It was observed in 37 % and 44% of patients with falciparum and vivax respectively. Abdomen pain:- It was seen in about 33 % of patients with vivax malaria and with 27% of patients with falciparum malaria. Diarrhoea:- Diarrhoea was noted in 14% & 10% cases of Pf & Pv respectively. Cough:- Cough was a presenting complaint in 14% & 22% of the patients with falciparum and vivax respectively. Febrile Seizure:- Pf & Pv were the precipitating factors in 4% & 10% of cases respectively. Loss of consciousness and seizures:- Loss of consciousness was observed in 22% of Pf cases. Conclusion: In this observational study, conducted on hospitalized children diagnosed with malaria, a total of 31 (62%) patients were affected with Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) & 19 (38%) were affected with Plasmodium vivax (Pv). Percentage of falciparum cases was high. This is a part of overall trend of increasing number of falciparum cases. Proportion of Pv patients from younger age group (<5 yr) was significantly higher. In the < 5 yr age group, M:F ratio was almost equal but after this period of life male children were affected predominantly.

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