A comparative study of regression of jaundice in patients of malaria and acute viral hepatitis

Background & objectives: Jaundice is one of the common manifestations of severe malaria in adults.The purpose of this study is to compare the pattern of clinical and biochemical parameters such asserum bilirubin and liver enzyme levels in patients of malaria with jaundice and acute viral hepatitis.Methodology: The present study was conducted on 34 patients of malaria with jaundice and 15patients of acute viral hepatitis. Estimation of serum bilirubin, aspartate amino transferase (AST),alanine amino transferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase was done daily using standard proceduresin malaria patients and weekly in acute viral hepatitis patients.Results: Mean level of serum bilirubin on first day in malaria and acute viral hepatitis patients was7.07 ± 3.94 and 10.38 ± 7.87 mg%, whereas on Day 8 it was 1.19 ± 1.43 and 7.88 ± 7.02 mg%respectively. Mean level of AST on Day 1 in malaria and acute viral hepatitis patients was 158.47 ±120.35 and 1418.6 ± 834.11 IU/L, whereas on Day 8 it was 41 ± 28.33 and 775.3 ± 399.01IU/L respectively. Mean level of ALT on Day 1 in malaria and acute viral hepatitis patients was220.14 ± 145.61 and 1666.67 ± 1112.77 IU/L, whereas on Day 8 it was 50.85 ± 37.31 and 823.8 ±475.06 IU/L respectively. Mean level of serum alkaline phosphatase on Day 1 in malaria and acuteviral hepatitis patients was 394.74 ± 267.78 and 513.4 ± 324.7 IU/L, whereas on Day 8 it was84.76 ± 68.50 and 369.27 ± 207.75 IU/L respectively.Interpretation & conclusion: We observed that resolution of jaundice in malaria took 1–2 weeks incontrast 6 to 8 weeks in viral hepatitis. This difference in duration was statistically significant. Thus,jaundice not resolving in 1–2 weeks time in a patient of malaria requires serious consideration forpresence of other concomitant diseases including viral hepatitis

The changing spectrum of severe falciparum malaria: a clinical study from Bikaner (northwest India)

Background & objectives: Recently there were reports from all over India about changing spectrumof clinical presentation of severe malaria. The present study was planned to study the same in thenorthwest India.Methods: This prospective study was conducted on patients of severe malaria admitted in a classifiedmalaria ward of a tertiary care hospital in Bikaner, Rajasthan (northwest India) during 1994 and 2001.It included adult patients of both sexes belonging to all age groups. The diagnosis of Plasmodiumfalciparum was confirmed by demonstrating asexual form of parasites in peripheral blood smear. Allpatients were treated with i.v./oral quinine. The specific complications were treated by standard WHOprotocol. The data for individual complications for both the years were analysed by applying chisquaretest.Results: In a prospective study in 1994 the spectrum of complication was dominated by cerebralmalaria (25.75%) followed by jaundice (11.47%), bleeding tendencies (9.59%), severe anaemia(5.83%), shock (5.26%), Acute respiratory distress syndrome—ARDS (3.01%), renal failure (2.07%)and hypoglycemia (2.07%) whereas in 2001 it was dominated by jaundice (58.85%) followed bysevere anaemia (26.04%), bleeding tendencies (25.52%), shock (10.94%), cerebral malaria (10.94%),renal failure (6.25%), ARDS (2.08%) and hypoglycemia (1.56%). The sharp difference for presence ofjaundice and severe anaemia in 2001 and cerebral malaria in 1994 was statistically significant. Similarly,the important cause of mortality in 2001 was multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (71.10%) withpredominant presentation of jaundice and renal failure, whereas in 1994, it was cerebral malaria (77.96%).Interpretation & conclusion: The observation of changing spectrum of severe malaria in this studyand a significant increase in presentation with jaundice as an important manifestation is highly essentialfor primary, secondary and tertiary level health care providers for proper diagnosis and management