Severity of Plasmodium vivax Malaria in Karachi: a cross-sectional study

Introduction: Plasmodium vivax malaria affects billions of people annually. This study aimed to note the presentations and complications and subsequently to identify the determinants of in-patient hospital care of P. vivax malaria patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan...

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Main Authors: Amber Mehmood, Kiran Ejaz, Tauqeer Ahmed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2012-09-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/2107
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author Amber Mehmood
Kiran Ejaz
Tauqeer Ahmed
author_facet Amber Mehmood
Kiran Ejaz
Tauqeer Ahmed
author_sort Amber Mehmood
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Plasmodium vivax malaria affects billions of people annually. This study aimed to note the presentations and complications and subsequently to identify the determinants of in-patient hospital care of P. vivax malaria patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Severity of the shock was also assessed using a shock index. Methodology: This study descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Emergency Department of Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. All adult patients with a positive P. vivax peripheral film and/or immunochromatography admitted through the department were studied during 2009. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 16. Keeping the length of stay at a cut-off of 48 hours after admission, the independent Student-t test was applied. Level of significance was taken at 0.05. Results: A total of 97 patients were included in the study. Fever was the most common presentation. A significant number of patients had nonspecific complaints, but tachycardia, altered mental status, and adult respiratory distress syndrome were important findings. Mean shock index was 1 (SD 0.26). Common reasons for admission were thrombocytopenia and dehydration. Some patients were admitted for more than 48 hours. Complications included pneumonia and bleeding requiring platelet transfusion. Conclusion: This study highlights that the debilitating impact of P. vivax malaria remains high. Although the effects of severe vivax malaria can be contained through aggressive resuscitation and specific therapy, sensitivity and awareness of this complicated course must be highlighted among caregivers.
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spelling doaj-art-a5f4d94976f14760a059242290ca4ac32025-08-20T02:57:14ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802012-09-0160910.3855/jidc.2107Severity of Plasmodium vivax Malaria in Karachi: a cross-sectional studyAmber Mehmood0Kiran Ejaz1Tauqeer Ahmed2The Aga Khan University, Karachi, PakistanThe Aga Khan University, Karachi, PakistanThe Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan Introduction: Plasmodium vivax malaria affects billions of people annually. This study aimed to note the presentations and complications and subsequently to identify the determinants of in-patient hospital care of P. vivax malaria patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Severity of the shock was also assessed using a shock index. Methodology: This study descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Emergency Department of Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. All adult patients with a positive P. vivax peripheral film and/or immunochromatography admitted through the department were studied during 2009. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 16. Keeping the length of stay at a cut-off of 48 hours after admission, the independent Student-t test was applied. Level of significance was taken at 0.05. Results: A total of 97 patients were included in the study. Fever was the most common presentation. A significant number of patients had nonspecific complaints, but tachycardia, altered mental status, and adult respiratory distress syndrome were important findings. Mean shock index was 1 (SD 0.26). Common reasons for admission were thrombocytopenia and dehydration. Some patients were admitted for more than 48 hours. Complications included pneumonia and bleeding requiring platelet transfusion. Conclusion: This study highlights that the debilitating impact of P. vivax malaria remains high. Although the effects of severe vivax malaria can be contained through aggressive resuscitation and specific therapy, sensitivity and awareness of this complicated course must be highlighted among caregivers. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/2107malariaPlasmodium vivaxKarachiseverityshock index
spellingShingle Amber Mehmood
Kiran Ejaz
Tauqeer Ahmed
Severity of Plasmodium vivax Malaria in Karachi: a cross-sectional study
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
malaria
Plasmodium vivax
Karachi
severity
shock index
title Severity of Plasmodium vivax Malaria in Karachi: a cross-sectional study
title_full Severity of Plasmodium vivax Malaria in Karachi: a cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Severity of Plasmodium vivax Malaria in Karachi: a cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Severity of Plasmodium vivax Malaria in Karachi: a cross-sectional study
title_short Severity of Plasmodium vivax Malaria in Karachi: a cross-sectional study
title_sort severity of plasmodium vivax malaria in karachi a cross sectional study
topic malaria
Plasmodium vivax
Karachi
severity
shock index
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/2107
work_keys_str_mv AT ambermehmood severityofplasmodiumvivaxmalariainkarachiacrosssectionalstudy
AT kiranejaz severityofplasmodiumvivaxmalariainkarachiacrosssectionalstudy
AT tauqeerahmed severityofplasmodiumvivaxmalariainkarachiacrosssectionalstudy