1Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, Kolar
2Professor, Department of Medicine, Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, Kolar
3Postgraduate, Department of Medicine, Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, Kolar
4Postgraduate, Department of Biochemistry, Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, Kolar
*Corresponding author: Srinivasa SV, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, Kolar - 563101. Email: drsrinivasa.dvl@gmail.com
Online published on 6 November, 2014.
Malaria is one of the most serious parasitic diseases. Of the four species of Plasmodia causing human malaria, P. falciparum can cause life threatening complications.
To study various complications of falciparum malaria and to study outcome of falciparum malaria.
50 adult cases of falciparum malaria confirmed by positive peripheral smear were included in the study. Study was conducted from January 2008 to June 2009. Cases were observed with reference to the presentation, complications and outcome. Data was analysed with descriptive statistical tools.
The male to female ratio was approximately 2:1. The maximum number of patients was in the age group of 26–40 years, i.e. 42%. Majority of the patients (52%) was of the low socioeconomic group. Fever was present in all cases. Pallor (62%) was the most common sign followed by splenomegaly (62%) and icterus (48%). Jaundice (51.4%) was the most common complication, followed by cerebral malaria (48.6%), anemia (45.9%), ARF (29.7%), ARDS (13.5%). More patients presented with multiple complications (54.05%) than single complication (49.95%). Majority of patients of complicated falciparum malaria responded to IV quinine or artemesinin-based combination therapy. The overall mortality out of 50 patients was 3 (6%) in our study. All 3 patients who expired had multiple complications and they constituted 8.3% of all complicated malaria cases.
Falciparum Malaria, Anemia
