Haematological Profile of Adults with Malaria Parasitaemia Visiting the Volta Regional Hospital, Ghana

Abstract

Background. Malaria is known to cause severe health consequences due to its marked effects and alteration on the haematological parameters of infected individuals. This study evaluated the haematological profile of adult individuals infected with the malaria parasite. Methods. A retrospective study was conducted using archived data of malaria positive cases from January 2017 to March 15, 2019. Data retrieved included subjects’ demographics, malaria parasite count, malaria parasite species, and full blood count parameters. A total of 236 malaria positive subjects were included in the study. Results. The study showed that more females were infected with the malaria parasite than males (69.07% and 30.93%, respectively). A total of 87.3% of the study population were infected with Plasmodium falciparum as compared to 12.7% infected with Plasmodium malariae. The commonest haematological abnormalities that were seen in this study were lymphopenia (56.78%), anaemia (55.51%), thrombocytopenia (47.46%), eosinopenia (45.76%), neutropenia (29.24%), monocytosis (21.19%), and leucocytosis (17.37%) in the infected subjects. The mean platelet count of P. falciparum-infected subjects was decreased as compared to the mean platelet count of P. malariae-infected subjects. There was a significant (P value <0.05) decrease in the number of platelet count with every unit increase in parasite density. Conclusion. Study participants infected with malaria demonstrated vital changes in haematological parameters with anaemia, thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, monocytosis, and eosinopenia being the most important predictors of malaria infection especially with P. falciparum species.

Hematological Parameters and Key Cytokines in Patients With Uncomplicated Falciparum Malaria in Hodeidah, Yemen

“…The current study revealed that the mean Hb concentration and RBC counts were signi cantly lower in patients than in controls. This is in agreement with previous studies (Erhabor et al, 2014;Sakzabre et al, 2020). In endemic areas, anemic individuals are more likely to be malaria positive than the non-anemic counterparts (Nlinwe and Nange, 2020).…”

“…Total WBC counts are generally low to normal during malaria, this is widely thought to re ect their localization away from the peripheral circulation (McKenzie et al, 2005). Contrary to the present study ndings, leukocytosis, neutropenia, monocytosis were observed in some patients (Maina et al, 2010;Sakzabre et al, 2020). Lymphocytosis was associated with falciparum malaria mortality among children (Ladhani et al, 2002).…”

“…In the present study, platelet counts in parasitized patients were signi cantly reduced compared to controls. Thrombocytopenia was reported in many previous studies (Erhabor et al, 2014;Sakzabre et al, 2020; Omarine Nlinwe and Nange, 2020). This was explained to be due to sequestration and pooling of the platelets in the spleen as well as to their immune-mediated destruction and coagulation disturbances.…”

Pancytopenia with severe thrombocytopenia in asymptomatic malaria in advanced pregnancy: a case report

“…Pancytopenia, like in the case we presented, has also been observed frequently. Sakzabre et al, in a retrospective analysis in Ghana, observed lymphopenia (56.78%), anaemia (55.51%), thrombocytopenia (47.46%), eosinopenia (45.76%), neutropenia (29.24%), monocytosis (21.19%), and leucocytosis (17.37) in infected patients (23). However, they had a signi cant number of cases due to P. malariae (12.7%), and this may have altered the clinical picture.…”

Thrombocytopenia as a Diagnostic Marker for Malaria in Patients with Acute Febrile Illness

“…Malaria parasite is a blood parasite that causes different hematological abnormalities such as anemia, thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, monocytosis, eosinopenia, and rarely disseminated intravascular coagulation [6][7][8][9].…”