MALARIA IN CHILDREN UPTO THE AGE OF 12 YEARS.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: To know the frequency of various types of malaria in children.
Malaria is present in endemic form in about 103 countries of the world. Every year > than one billion
persons in the world suffer from this disease. It kills about 1-3 million people in the world every year.
Malaria infection in children is transmitted by the bites of infected anopheles mosquitoes, less common
mode of transmission are inoculation of infected blood, use of contaminated needles and from an
infected mother to her infant during late pregnancy. There are 4 types of plasmodium of malaria
parasite. Plasmodium vivax, plasmodium ovale, plasmodium falciparum and plasmodium malariae.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted at outpatient department of
BKMC/MMC Mardan. This study was performed from 1st March 2013 to 28th Feb. 2014. All patients
up to 12 years of age with fever with “ no focal signs on history and clinical examination†were included
in the study. Blood smear slide for MP were advised for those patients with fever with no focal signs.
All patients with fever but negative for blood smear slide for MP were excluded from the study. Both
thick and thin films were advised to the patients. A total of 250 patients were included in the study,
which fulfilled the criteria.
RESULTS: A total of 250 patients were included in the study. Males were 140 (56%) and females were
110 (44%). P. Vivax was seen in 220 (88%) patients and P. falciparum was seen 30 (12%) patients.
Main symptoms were fever 100%, headache 32%, vomiting 49%, diarrhea 29%, and splenomegaly 36%.
Laboratory findings were: Hb% 5gm - <9 / dl=58%, Hb % < 5gm/dl=7%.
Pit count: 50000 <150000 / cmm= 59%, Pit <50000 / cmm =7%.
CONCLUSION: The most common human malaria infection in district Mardan is P.Vivax and not
P.Falciparum. No mixed infection was found in this study.
KEY WORDS: Malaria, Mardan, Plasmodium Vivax.