Archives of CraniOrofacial Sciences

Register      Login

VOLUME 7 , ISSUE 2 ( July-December, 2024 ) > List of Articles

Original Article

Biochemical Spectrum of Plasmodium falciparum Malaria

Sanjay Deshwali, Akanksha Dubey

Keywords : Biochemical spectrum, Cerebral malaria, Malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, Tertiary care hospital

Citation Information : Deshwali S, Dubey A. Biochemical Spectrum of Plasmodium falciparum Malaria. Arch Craniofac Sci 2024; 7 (2):29-33.

DOI: 10.5005/acofs-11029-0009

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 26-02-2025

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2024; The Author(s).


Abstract

Background: Malaria continues to pose significant health challenges globally, with Plasmodium falciparum being the most virulent species contributing to severe complications. This study aims to evaluate the biochemical manifestations of P. falciparum malaria in a tertiary care hospital setting. Materials and methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the biochemical profile of patients diagnosed with P. falciparum malaria. Patients above 12 years of age presenting with fever and confirmed positive for P. falciparum on peripheral smear were included. Patients with comorbid conditions or other identifiable causes of fever were excluded from the study. Results: Among 962 patients admitted for febrile illness, 100 met the inclusion criteria. The most common clinical feature observed was chills and rigors (82%), followed by headache (42%) and vomiting (36%). Complications included cerebral malaria in 38% of patients, severe anemia (10%), oliguria (26%), acute respiratory distress syndrome (1%), hypoglycemia (8%), shock (12%), bleeding manifestations (4%), generalized tonic−clonic seizure (6%), hemoglobinuria (11%), hyperparasitemia (80%), hyperpyrexia (42%), and jaundice (24%). Conclusion: Plasmodium falciparum malaria presents with a diverse biochemical and clinical spectrum, often leading to multiorgan dysfunction. Early recognition and prompt management are essential, and malaria should be considered in patients presenting with febrile illness and systemic complications. This study underscores the importance of vigilant diagnostic approaches in endemic regions.


PDF Share
  1. Lobo L. Malaria in the social context: A study in western India: Routledge; 2012.
  2. Karoli R, Shakya S, Gupta N, et al. Clinical profile of malaria at a tertiary care teaching hospital in North India. Trop Parasitol 2021; 11(1):25–30. DOI 10.4103/tp.TP_76_20.
  3. Baird JKJIjfp. Asia-Pacific malaria is singular, pervasive, diverse and invisible Int J Parasitol 2017;47(7):371–377. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2016.06.006.
  4. Purohit P, Mohanty PK, Patel S, et al. Comparative study of clinical presentation and hematological indices in hospitalized sickle cell patients with severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria. J Infect Public Health 2018;11(3):321–325. DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2017.08.013.
  5. Gehlawat VK, Arya V, Kaushik JS, et al. Clinical spectrum and treatment outcome of severe malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax in 18 children from northern India Pathog Glob Health 13;107(4):210. DOI: 10.1179/2047773213Y.0000000096.
  6. Carter R. Transmission blocking malaria vaccines. Vaccine 2001;19(17−19):2309–2314. DOI: 10.1016/s0264-410x(00)00521-1.
  7. Murli et al. Clinico epidemiological study – Falciparum. BMJ 2000;715−718.
  8. Garg RK. Cerebral malaria. J Assoc Physicians India 2000;48(10): 1004−1013. PMID: 11200901.
  9. Schemann JF, Doumbo O, Malvy D, et al. Ocular lesions associated with malaria in children in Mali. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2002;67(1):61−63. DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2002.67.61.
  10. Senanayake N, de Silva HJ. Delayed cerebellar ataxia complicating falciparum malaria: A clinical study of 74 patients. J Neurol 1994;241(7):456−459. DOI: 10.1007/BF00900965.
  11. Drago SD, Sa ND, Golapalli U, et al. Guillian Barre syndrome in a case of falciparum malaria. Journal-association of physicians of india 1997;45:161.
  12. Shukla MM, Singh N, Singh MP, et al. Cerebral malaria in Jabalpur, India. Indian J Malariol 1995;32(2):70−75. PMID: 7589731.
  13. Das BK, Parida S, Ravindran B. A prognostic role for anti-phosphatidyl choline antibodies in human cerebral malaria. Clin Exp Immunol 1996;103(3):442−445. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1996.tb08300.x.
  14. Arya TV, Prasad RN. Falciparum malaria presenting as Guillain–Barre syndrome. BMJ 1986;292:1430.
  15. Brewster DR, Kwaitkowski D, White NJ. Neurological sequelae of cerebral malaria in children. Lancet 1990;335:1039−1043. DOI: 10.1016/0140-6736(90)92498-7.
  16. Patnaik JK, Das BS, Mishra SK, et al. Vascular clogging, mononuclear cell margination, and enhanced vascular permeability in the pathogenesis of human cerebral malaria. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1994;51(5):642−647. PMID: 7985757.
  17. Deb T, Mohanty RK, Ravi K, et al. Atypical presentations of falciparum malaria. The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India 1992 1;40(6):381–384. PMID: 1452562.
  18. White NJ, Warrel DA, Looareesuwans S, et al. Pathophysiological and prognostic significance of cerebrospinal-fluid lactate in cerebral malaria. Lancet 1985;1:776−778. DOI: 10.1016/s0140- 6736(85) 91445-x.
  19. World Health Organization. Severe and complicated malaria. World Health Organization, Division of control of tropical diseases. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 1990;84(Suppl 2):1−65. PMID: 2219249.
  20. Arya TV, Prasad RN. Falciparum malaria presenting as Guillain-Barrésyndrome Clark IA, Cowden WB. Why is the pathology of falciparum worse than that of vivax malaria? Parasitol Today 1999;15(11):458−461. DOI: 10.1016/s0169-4758(99)01535-5.
  21. Trigg PI, Kondrachine AV. Commentary: Malaria control in the 1990s. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 1998;76(1):11. PMID: 9615492.
  22. Verma et al. Southeast Asian J Trop Med 1976;76(1):61–63.
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.