MALARIA AND ANTIMALARIAL DRUGS: FACTS AND FIGURES FROM THE RURAL SINDH, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Background: Malaria is a very common and very ancient disease caused by the malarial parasites following bites by female mosquito of genus anopheles. There are four common variants of this parasite namely Plasmodium Vivax, Falciparum, Ovale and malarae. Objective: This research was planned to estimate the frequency distribution and nature of malaria cases in the remote rural area (Tando Adam District) of Sindh Province of Pakistan. Settings and duration of research: Pediatric and medical outpatient department of Teaching hospital of Suleman Roshan Medical College was the site of study while the research was conducted over one-year period of time (January 2024 to December 2024). Methods: Participants were chosen through non-probability convenient sampling, suspected malaria cases with age limits5 to 50 years broadly divided into <12 years and above 12 years of age. Patients suspected for pyrexia due to respiratory infections and urinary tract infections were not included in the study. Biographic data and blood samples were collected following informed written consent. Malaria tests were performed in the hospital lab and data was calculated analyzed using SPSS version 22. Results: The frequency and percentage of male and female patients in this study was 787(60.12%) and 522(39.88%) respectively. Out of total 1309 patients 1066(81.44%) patients were malaria negative whereas the positive cases were 243(18.56%) out of which 124(9.47%) were males and 119(9.09%) were females. Patients with positive malarial test below the age of 12 years were 78(32.23%) out of which 66(27.27%) were suffering from plasmodium vivax while12(4.96%) patients were plasmodium Falciparum positive. Patients above 12 years with malaria positive were 164(67.77%) out of which 137(56.61%) were found to be vivax positive and 27(11.16%) were falciparum positive.

Conclusion: Malaria caused by plasmodium vivax was most common in this region followed by falciparum with no major gender difference was observed. Majority of cases were observed in months from June to October. Artemether and Lumefantrine combination was the mostly prescribed antimalarial agent.