Studies on Biochemical and Hematological Parameters Among Male Population in a Severe Malaria (Plasmodium falciparum) Infested Area of Gambella Region, in South Western Ethiopia
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Date
2017-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Malaria is a blood disease caused by the bite of Anopheles mosquito. It is also a major health
problem in developing countries accounting for 2-3 million deaths per year. The burden of
malaria is increasing especially in sub-Saharan Africa because of drug and insecticide
resistance, social and environmental changes, creating a major challenge in providing
patients with this infection with effective malaria chemotherapy. Severe malaria affects
almost all blood components and is a true hematological infectious disease. Anemia and
thrombocytopenia are the most frequent malaria-associated hematological complications and
they play a major role in malaria pathogenesis. Hypoglycemia is a frequently encountered
complication in severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria, which is usually ascribed to
decreased glucose use and impaired glucose production caused by the inhibition of
gluconeogenesis. The Gambella People's Regional State is located at South West of Ethiopia
and malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in this region. The objective of
this study was to investigate the effect of severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria on some
biochemical and hematological parameters in Gambella region at Gambella General Hospital
on adult males aged from 18-55. Hyperparasitemia in the adult males was considered as an
important criterion for selection of individuals with severe malaria. Fasting blood glucose
and hematological parameter (RBC, Hb, Hct, MCV, MCH, MCHC and PLT) were measured
in patients (n = 60) and control subjects (n = 40). The results were analyzed using student t-
test and indicated significant difference in the hematological parameters between the malaria
infected and non-infected subjects (p < 0.01). Adult males with severe malaria had
significantly decreased levels of RBC, Hb, Hct and PLT also a significantly decreased level
of fasting blood glucose (p < 0.01) but the level of MCV, MCH and MCHC were not
significantly decreased when compared with the control group (p > 0.05). Hb and fasting
blood glucose are positively correlated with demographic indicators and PLT negatively
correlated with the demographic indicators in the study groups and control groups. The study
concluded that investigation of biochemical parameters and hematological parameters
showed certain changes of a sub-clinical pattern and severe Plasmodium falciparum can
cause significant hematological changes with high incidence of thrombocytopenia and
anemia. Consideration of these changes in adult males with severe Plasmodium falciparum
malaria might effectively reduce morbidity and mortality.
Key words: - Fasting blood glucose, severe malaria, Plasmodium falciparum parasites,
Hematological parameters, Gambella, Ethiopia
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Keywords
Fasting blood glucose; Severe malaria; Plasmodium falciparum parasites; Hematological parameters; Gambella; Ethiopia.