P.Vivax Malaria : A Benign Disease with Emerging Complications

Abstract

Background: Malaria is an endemic disease in India. It is a mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by genus Plasmodium. Complications usually occur with P.falciparum, its occurrence has been rarely reported in cases of P. vivax malaria. We observe 107 patients with P.vivax malaria who developed complications in the form of Thrombocytopenia, Acute kidney injury, hyperbillirubinemia & cerebral malaria, a rare presentation in P.vivax malaria. Objectives: As the burden of P.vivax malaria is progressively increasing in community this study has been carried out to find out various complications in P.vivax malaria which is considered as a benign entity. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 150 patients hospitalized in C.U.Shah hospital of P.vivax infection on initial microscopy with complications over a two year period. Hematological, biochemical, serological, radiological investigations are performed to identify complications. Results: As per study, burden of P.vivax(67%) is more in community as compared to P.falciparum(33%). Out of 150 patients of P.vivax malaria, 107 patients were having various complications in the form of Thrombocytopenia (71.33%), Anemia(10%), hyperbillirubinemia(8.67%), Acute renal failure(8%) and cerebral malaria(1.33%) in their respective order. Most common complication is thromb-ocytopenia. Male gender is more prone to develop complicated P.vivax malaria than female with unknown reason. Conclusion: As per observations, P.vivax malaria is no more benign disease. P.vivax can be presented with various complications and as far as thrombocytopenia is concern, it has a favorable prognosis and does not require platelet transfusion regularly except sequel is present.