Exploring the Effect of Malaria on Biochemical Parameters Among Sudanese Patients with Complicated Falciparum Malaria

Malaria is one of the most infectious diseases, and electrolyte imbalance and mineral disturbances are common clinical manifestations. This study aimed to explore the effect of malaria on biochemical parameters in Sudanese patients with severe falciparum malaria.

A case-control study was conducted in the clinical laboratory of the Kosti Teaching Hospital between August 2022 and January 2023. A total of 400 participants were included in the study and divided into 200 individuals with severe malaria and 200 healthy individuals as the control group. Blood samples were collected from all the participants. Malaria was detected and identified by parasitological techniques. Biochemical parameters were measured and analyzed using an automated biochemical analyzer.

Plasma potassium and sodium levels were significantly decreased (p < 0.05), while plasma urea and creatinine levels (p > 0.05) were not affected in infected children compared with controls. Plasma urea levels were significantly higher in the infected adult group than those in the adult controls (p < 0.05) and infected children (p > 0.05). In contrast, the levels of plasma creatinine, potassium, and sodium were not affected in the adult patients (p > 0.05). In addition, there were no significant differences in the levels of plasma urea, creatinine, potassium, or sodium between the sexes of child patients and adult patients (p > 0.05). Additionally, there was a significant positive correlation between urea and sodium (r = 0.322, p < 0.001) and an insignificant correlation between urea, creatinine, and potassium among infected children (r = 0.202, -0.187, p > 0.05) and adults (r = 0.141, 0.096, p > 0.05).

Accordingly, we concluded that malaria infection is the risk factor for hyponatremia and hypokalemia among children as well as azotemia among adult patients. Moreover, plasma creatinine, potassium, and sodium levels were not affected by age or gender in child and adult patients. Early detection of electrolyte and renal parameters may help predict and prevent complications of severe malaria.