VIVAX MALARIA

FREQUENCY, SEVERITY OF THROMBOCYTOPENIA AND VARIATION IN RED CELL DISTRIBUTION WIDTH (RDW)

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency and severity of thrombocytopenia and to
evaluate the variation of red cell distribution width (RDW) in patients with acute vivax malaria.
Study Deign: Cross sectional descriptive case series study. Period: Six months. Setting:
Liaquat University Hospital. Methods: All the patients with acute vivax malaria were evaluated
for thrombocytopenia its severity and RDW. The data was analyzed in SPSS 10 and the
frequency and percentage was calculated. Results: Total 126 patients with acute vivax malaria
were recruited, of which 88 were males and 38 were females. The mean age ±SD for male and
female subjects was 44.76±6.83 and 40.83±7.42. The common features observed were fever
31%, rigor 15% and combined features 14% (p=0.05). The thrombocytopenia was identified in
86 patients of which 65 were males and 21 were females (p=0.04). The increased RDW was
observed in 75 patients of which 57 were males and 18 were females (p=0.05). The bleeding
was detected in 56 and dyspnea and heart failure was found in 30 thrombocytopenic subjects
(p=0.02). Regarding outcome 82 subjects were recovered while the 04 patients were expired
(p=0.05). Regarding severity of thrombocytopenia majority 48.8% were in moderate category
with male predominance (p=0.02). Conclusion: The thrombocytopenia and increased RDW
was observed in patients with acute vivax malaria.