Publication: Falciparum malaria parasitemia index for predicting severe malaria
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Issued Date
2012-06-01
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ISSN
1751553X
17515521
17515521
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2-s2.0-84860259564
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Mahidol University
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SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
International Journal of Laboratory Hematology. Vol.34, No.3 (2012), 320-327
Suggested Citation
N. Tangpukdee, S. Krudsood, S. Kano, P. Wilairatana Falciparum malaria parasitemia index for predicting severe malaria. International Journal of Laboratory Hematology. Vol.34, No.3 (2012), 320-327. doi:10.1111/j.1751-553X.2011.01398.x Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/13718
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Title
Falciparum malaria parasitemia index for predicting severe malaria
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Abstract
Introduction: While hyperparasitemia is considered an important indicator for the development of severe malaria, there is currently no consensus on the quantitative definition of hyperparasitemia. This study was conducted to establish a cutoff point for peripheral parasitemia among patients with Plasmodium falciparum malaria, to define severe malaria. Methods: The clinical presentations of 200 uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria, and 189 severe P. falciparum malaria, patients, admitted to the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, were analyzed. Results: A peripheral parasitemia of 0.5% was found to be the optimal cutoff point for defining severe malaria, demonstrating highest sensitivity (85.1%), specificity (62.0%), and accuracy (73.2%). Conclusion: Symptoms of severe falciparum malaria depend on many factors. For the definition of hyperparasitemia in areas of low or seasonal transmission, peripheral parasitemia of 0.5% might be considered a cutoff point for discrimination between severity levels. This value might be useful for the clinical management of malaria, particularly in hypo-endemic areas, unstable transmission areas, and other areas with similar transmission patterns. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.