Muhammad Asim Ikram, Muhammad Khalid, Aisha Sajid.
Complete blood count abnormalities associated with malaria and its response to treatment in children.
Rawal Med J Jan ;39(3):261-4.

Objectives: To evaluate the hematological derangements associated with malaria and response to treatment in children. Methodology: It was a retrospective cross-sectional study using convenience sampling, carried out in the Pediatrics and Pathology departments, Madina Teaching Hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan from November 2012 to October 2013. All children up to age 16 years, who were suffering from malaria, were included in the study. Results: Out of 104 children, 66 (63.5%) were male and 38 (36.5%) were female. Anemia was found in 58 (55.8%) children. Clinically, Splenomegaly was present in 75 (72.1%) of patients (p=0.04). Thrombocytopenia (platelets count <150,000/µL) was found in 82 (78.8%) of children (p=0.001). Most of the patient (91.5%) responded to 4 doses of chloroquine (CQ) and only 8.5% were CQ resistant. Conclusion: In an acute febrile illness with marked thrombocytopenia, P. vivax malaria should be kept as a differential diagnosis.

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