THE CHANGING PROFILE OF PLASMODIUM-FALCIPARUM MALARIA

Resurgence of malaria has been noted in the Rohtak district (Haryana, India) after the recent floods. The profile of 66 patients of P. falci parum infection who were admitted to our hospital over one month in Oc tober 1995 is reported. While only a minority of cases (<15%) presente d with an uncomplicated course, all others developed one or more compl ication(s), some of them very rare. The usual manifestations viz., cer ebral malaria, black water fever and algid malaria seen in the past we re observed in less than half the patients. The remaining presented wi th unusual complications like haemolytic anaemia (46.2%), severe anaem ia (37.9%), thrombocytopaenia (18.2%), pancytopaenia (6%), adult respi ratory distress syndrome (4.5%) often not seen in sporadic cases of fa lciparum malaria which occurred in the past in this district. Similarl y all deaths (15.1%) were noted in patients with rarer manifestations and only one patient died of cerebral malaria. This study confirms the occurrence of severe and complicated falciparum malaria in this part of the country.