Clinical Predictors of Malaria in Children Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital in North India

Abstract

Malaria is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in childhood in India. All children aged between 0 and 15 years, with fever, attending the Department of Pediatrics, GSVM Medical College, Kanpur, during the study period were tested for malarial parasites. Those found positive for Plasmodium vivax and/or Plasmodium falciparum were included in the study; clinical findings and laboratory investigations were noted and analyzed. In a total of 183 subjects, P. vivax was found in 70 (60.7%) and P. falciparum in 42 (39.3%). Fever with splenomegaly (97.81%), intermittent fever (92.9%), pallor (90.16%), and splenomegaly (89.07%) were observed to be the most sensitive indicators. Most specific indicators were fever with splenomegaly (89.19%), splenomegaly (82.63%), and pallor (79.54%). Indicators with best positive predictive value were fever with splenomegaly (86.47%), splenomegaly (78.37%), and pallor (75.69%). Fever with splenomegaly was a good predictor.

Keywords

malaria - predictor - symptoms

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