Analysis of clinical profile of malaria patients attending a tertiary care centre in Central India

Abstract

Background: Malaria is the commonest parasitic infection in India. A shift in the clinical profile in patients with complicated malaria has been observed with multiple organ dysfunctions becoming a common feature. Aim: This study is aimed to evaluate the clinical profile of malaria in a tertiary care hospital, central India. Material and Methods: A prospective study was carried out at a tertiary care hospital of a medical college in M.P. India. Patients of 18 years age or above who were smear positive or antigen positive were included in the study. Results: A total of 230 malaria cases were present, of which 54.8% were males. The mean age of the participants was 34.7 years. Prevalence was common in rural (64.8%) and lower socio-economic class (46.1%) population. Fever weakness/nausea and headache were the most common presenting complaints (94.3% and 85.7% and 71.3% respectively) and pallor, jaundice and hepato splenomegaly were the foremost sign. Plasmodium Vivax (53%) was the most common infection. Conclusion: Malaria has a male preponderance. Fever, headache, weakness, pallor and splenomegaly were the common clinical presentation.