Background Malaria which is an occasionally fatal, preventable, parasitic disease is a major health problem in endemic countries like India and is caused by Plasmodium species. Malaria infection has been associated with variations in the hematological parameters, and complete blood count (CBC) is the first line of investigation carried out for looking any alterations in hematological parameters. The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation between hematological parameters and malarial parasite indices and its effect on treatment outcome. Patients and methods This study was conducted on patients who were admitted to and attended JN Medical College and Hospital, Aligarh, for a period of 2 years. CBC of all of the clinically suspected cases of malaria was done, and diagnosis of malaria was confirmed using quantitative buff coat, rapid diagnostic test, and peripheral blood smear examination. Results Of 408 cases that presented with fever and were clinically suspected to have malaria, 144 (35.29%) cases were positive for malaria by one or more than one test performed for diagnosis. When hematological parameters were compared, it was seen that thrombocytopenia and anemia were most significantly encountered derangements in malarial infection followed by eosinophilia. These parameters were more affected in Plasmodium falciparum infection, which was seen quantitively increasing with the malarial parasite density index. Conclusion As CBC is the earliest investigation carried out, fever with chills and rigors along with hematological parameters/indices can be used as a provisional diagnostic tool for malarial infection, and treatment can be started early. It will prevent the complication and hence morbidity and mortality, especially in those cases in which diagnosis of malaria could not be possible by quantitative buff coat, rapid diagnostic test, or peripheral detection of the malarial parasite.
Rehman et al. (Tue,) studied this question.