Prevalence of Clinical Features of Malaria and its Distribution of Corresponding Vectors in Kolkata Region

Background: Malaria, caused by protozoa of the genus Plasmodium, remains a significant public health concern, especially in subtropical and tropical regions.Kolkata, in particular, has seen a high prevalence of malaria, with Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax being the primary species.This study investigates the clinical features and vector distribution of malaria in the Kolkata region.The aim is to evaluate the clinical features of malaria and corresponding vectors in the Kolkata region.Methods: This retrospective study, conducted from November 2023 to March 2024, analyzed data from patients diagnosed with malaria over the past three years in Kolkata.Data were collected from hospital records, including blood reports, microscopy results, and patient histories.Patients were surveyed using a structured questionnaire to gather socio-economic and anthropometric data.Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 27, with significance set at p<0.05. Results:The study included 103 falciparum and 97 vivax malaria patients.No significant differences were found in demographic and socio-economic characteristics between the groups.Severe disease was more common in falciparum malaria (82.5% vs. 33.0%,p=0.042).Hypoglycemia was significantly higher in falciparum patients (59.2% vs. 8.2%, p=0.044), while splenomegaly was more prevalent in vivax patients (43.3% vs. 15.5%,p=0.0455).No significant differences were observed for relapses, cerebral malaria, or renal failure. Conclusion:The study concludes that falciparum malaria typically presents with continuous fever and greater severity, including higher incidences of hypoglycemia, whereas vivax malaria is associated with recurrent fever and splenomegaly.Thus, alongside standard regimens, symptomatic treatment tailored to the specific type of malaria is necessary.