Clinical profile of malaria in children--a prospective study from Aligarh (N. India)

Area of Science:

• Tropical Medicine
• Pediatric Infectious Diseases
• Parasitology

Background:

• Malaria remains a critical public health issue in many tropical regions.
• Understanding local epidemiological patterns and causative Plasmodium species is vital for effective control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and clinical features of malaria in pediatric outpatients in North India.
• To identify the predominant Plasmodium species, particularly Plasmodium falciparum, and compare clinical manifestations with Plasmodium vivax.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, hospital-based study was conducted over one year.
• Data collected included patient demographics, clinical presentations, and laboratory-confirmed malaria diagnoses.
• Species identification was performed, and clinical features were compared between Plasmodium species.

Main Results:

• Malaria constituted 1.5% of pediatric outpatient attendances, with a notable increase during post-monsoon months.
• Plasmodium falciparum was identified in 44.4% of cases, a higher prevalence than previously reported for the region.
• Common clinical features included pyrexia, vomiting, pallor, and hepatosplenomegaly; convulsions were present in 20% of cases.
• Splenic and hepatic enlargement were significantly more frequent in P. vivax infections compared to P. falciparum infections.

Conclusions:

• Malaria, including a significant proportion of Plasmodium falciparum infections, is a common cause of pediatric illness in North India, particularly after the monsoon season.
• Clinical presentation can be severe, with convulsions occurring in a substantial percentage of cases.
• The findings highlight the need for updated malaria surveillance and treatment strategies in the region, considering the prevalence of P. falciparum.