Evaluation of Hematological Parameters in Malarial Patients of District Dera Ghazi Khan

Abstract

Hematological alterations are the most common side effects of malaria and play a crucial role in the development of the disease. Malaria patients often exhibit abnormalities in their leukocytes, platelets, and red blood cells. This study aims to compare the hematological parameters of patients with malaria. A total of 100 blood samples were collected from Allama Iqbal Teaching Hospital in Dera Ghazi, Pakistan. The hematological parameters were observed using an automated Sysmex 300 hematology analyzer. The data were reported as mean (SD) for the different hematological parameters. We analyzed the hematological parameters, such as RBC, platelet and WBC counts, and hemoglobin levels, in 100 patients aged 2-65 years who were diagnosed with malaria. Anemia was observed in 54% of the patients, with notable gender differences. Additionally, 52% of the patients had low hematocrit levels. The RBC count differed significantly depending on gender. The white blood count may indicate the patients' immune response, as some patients showed levels suggestive of inflammation or leucopenia. Thrombocytopenia was diagnosed in 81% of the participants in this study. The findings demonstrate that hematological parameters worsen in malaria patients and can be utilized for diagnosis, assessing treatment effectiveness, and predicting prognosis. Therefore, specific management strategies tailored to gender differences and parasite species are warranted.