The prevalence of thrombocytopenia in plasmodium falciparum malaria in children at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Thrombocytopenia occurring in falciparum malaria infection has been documented worldwide. However, its prevalence varies from place to place, and among different population groups studied. There is paucity of data on this in Nigerian children.
Objectives: To determine the prevalence of thrombocytopenia in children presenting with falciparum malaria at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
Method: A prospective crosssectional study from October 2010 to March 2011 on one hundred and eighty children with microscopically confirmed malaria aged six months to fifteen years, compared with 180 healthy children without malaria parasitaemia matched for age and gender. Their platelet counts were evaluated using the auto-analyser Sysmex KX-21N.
Results: The overall prevalence of thrombocytopenia was 5.0%, but it was higher in children with severe malaria. None of the children in the control group had thrombocytopenia.
Conclusion: The prevalence of thrombocytopenia in falciparum malaria is low in our setting, but higher in children with severe manifestations of malaria.

Keywords: Malaria, Thrombocytopenia, Prevalence, children.