Farooq Rahman Soomro, Ghulam Murtaza Pathan, Amar Lal Gurbakhshani, Juma Khan Kakar.
Prevalence of malarial parasites in Larkano District, Sindh.
Gomal J Med Sci Jan ;8(2):146-8.

Background: Malaria is one of the most prevalent infections in developing countries causing significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of malarial parasites in Larkano district. Methodology: This descriptive study was carried out for a period of one year from January 2005 to Decem- ber 2005, at District Larkano, in collaboration with Chandka Medical College, Larkano and Zoology Depart- ment, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan. The surveillance data by malaria control program was collected from febrile cases of all age groups. These patient with fever were referred from various areas of Larkano District by private clinics and public sector clinics. The parasites were identified by using Giemsa stained thick and thin smears. Results: During the study period blood smears of 87617 patients were examined and 1474 were found positive for malarial parasites, giving the overall prevalence rate of 1.67% among febrile patients. Plasmodium falciparum was found in 779 and Plasmodium vivax in 695 cases giving the ratio of 1.1:1. Conclusion: The prevalence of malaria parasite is 1.67% among febrile patients in Larkano district, Sindh and Plasmodium falciparum is the predominant species.

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