Clinical profile of severe plasmodium vivax malaria in a tertiary care centre of North Karnataka

Abstract

Plasmodium vivaxis the most widely distributed human malarial parasite with risk population of 2.5 billion persons. Pl. vivaxmono infection could also result in multiple organ dysfunction and severe life-threatening disease as seen in P.falciparum infection. 1,2 We describe here the clinical profile of patients with severe vivax malaria. Method and Material: We recruited 95 patients fulfilling the criteria for severe malaria during the study period from June 2011 to May 2012. Detailed history, clinical examination, routine hematological and biochemical investigations were done. The end points were discharge from wards or death. Results: We had 95 patients with severe malaria of which 50 (52.6%) patients had severe vivax and 45 (47.3%) had severe falciparum malaria. Amongst vivax group 29(58 %) were males and 21(42 %) females. Thrombocytopenia 24(48%) was the most common complication followed by renal (46%), hepatic (42%) cerebral (16%) and pulmonary (4%) involvement. Most patients were in the age group of 15-35 years and mortality increased with increasing age. The mortality observed in severe vivax malaria was 12% (6). Conclusions: Severe vivax malaria is now very common with increasing mortality. The mortality in vivax malaria increases with increasing age. Thrombocytopenia is very common in severe vivax infection.