Abstract:
Malaria is still a major public health concern in Ethiopia, where the two principal parasites
Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax co-exsist. Many studies have shown that
malaria infection affects the normal hematological parameters. Howevre, link between P.vivax
infection alone and hematological parameters are not studeied. Therefore, this study was aimed
to investigate the association between hematological parameters and the major severe P.vivax
pathologies. Hence, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Gebrestadik Shawo
General Hospital, Bonga town, south west Ethiopia from Sept. 2023 to July 2024. Also,
retrospective data on malaria positivity rate in the Kaffazone (2018 to 2024) was included. A
total of 1536 all age group patients with mild (n=768) and severe (n=768) vivax malaria were
included in the study. Data on parasitological and clinical symptoms of the patients were
collected. A bout 2ml of blood samples was collected from each patient for hematological
parameters [Red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), and platelat indices] analysis
using automated complete blood cells (CBC) machine. Data was analysed using statistical
package for social sciences (SPSS) software version 26 and statistical tools such as descriptive
and inferential statistics, correlation and logistic regression model. Almost all symptoms of
severe malarioa pathologies such as cerebral malaria, severe anemia, thrombosytopenia,
hypoglycemia and others were documented. Substantial numbers of severe case were found to
have leukopenia (19.7%), lymphocytopenia (32.8%), granulocytopenia (32.6%), eosinophilia
(97.6%), anemia (78.8%) and thrombocytopenia (60.3%). Vomiting and diarrhea were
associated with significant reduction (p<0.05) of monocyte count and hematocrit level, WBC
and platelet indices were significantly increased (p<0.05) among these patients. Also, red cells
distribution-coefficent of variation (RCD-CV) and lymphocyte measures were significantly
increased among patients with vomiting and diarrhea pathologies. In addition, patients with
symptom of cerebral malaria had increased level of RCD-CV and Platelet Distribution Width
(PDW), while those with hyperparasitemia and pulmonary edema had increased lymphocyte
and mean corpescularvolume (MCV), and shock and convolution were significantly increased
with increased WBCs and neutrophils. The study showed association between some severe
malaria symptoms and hematological parameters. Thus, to obtain sold evidences, further
similar study using larger sample size and diverse study setting is important.
