Girish Narayan Mishra
BACKGROUND Traditionally plasmodium vivax has been considered to be the cause for benign malaria and plasmodium falciparum to cause severe malaria. The incidence of P. vivax malaria in Rohtas district (Bihar) and neighbouring districts is quite high and P. vivax cases with severe complication are coming to NMCH, Rohtas for treatment. Thus, the present study was conducted to find out morbidity and mortality of P. vivax and P. falciparum malaria. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study period was from January 2015 to June 2018 and was conducted at NMCH (Narayan Medical College and Hospital), Jamuhar, Rohtas, Bihar. Patients of 16 years and above who were smear positive and/or malaria antigen positive were included in this study. RESULTS Total number of cases included for study were 306 out of which 192 (62.75%) were P. vivax, 102 (33.33%) cases of P. falciparum and 12 (3.92%) cases were mixed infection of P. vivax and P. falciparum. The commonest age group was 16-40 years and the commonest complication was thrombocytopenia followed by renal impairment, hepatic dysfunction, cerebral malaria and ARDS in that order. Statistically, there was no significant difference in clinical profile, morbidity and mortality in P. vivax and P. falciparum/mixed group. CONCLUSION Vivax malaria is no more a benign malaria and morbidity and mortality are comparable to P. falciparum/mixed infection
