Abstract

Objective: To observe the distribution of malaria infection in the tribal area of East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh, India . Methods: The data for the present study was collected from 6 342 and 765 patients who were admitted at tribal hospital and hill forest camps respectively during the study period. The data was collected from the malaria suspected patients admitted in paediatric and adult critical care wards of a tertiary hospital and in interior hill and forest camps in and around the Rampachodavaram. The detailed medical case sheet proforma were prepared and data has been analyz. It was found that RDT ’s can be helpful to screen Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) inendemic areas and remote tribal belt. Results: A total number of 6 342 and 765 patients were admitted at tribal hospital and hill forest camps respectively during the study period. Among 6 342 of individuals tested, 4 387 individuals were reported for malaria positive. Out of the 4 387 slides examined, 59.0% were positive P. falciparum infection, 19.4% slides showed positive Plasmodium vivax infection and 21.5% had mixed infection. The total P. falciparum burden was estimated as 80.5%. In hill forest camps, out of 765 admitted patients, 650 patients who had clinical history showed suggestive of malaria were examined for malaria parasites. Conclusions: The maximum numbers of malaria infection (4 387) were reported from the tribal based hospital. Malaria is responsible for major health concern in this region, particularly in rainy season. P. falciparum was the major parasite type causing malaria, and most of the complications were due to Plasmodium vivax. Compared to rest of the hills and forest areas, where most of the tribal people reside has the heavy load of malaria mainly P. falciparum. One important finding from the present study was the sex-difference observed in the admission rate. The rate of malaria infection was significantly high for male (53.5%), followed by female (46.5%) and children (33%).

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