Effect of falciparum malaria infection on blood cholesterol and platelets

The current study is a hospital based investigation, in which attempts were being made to establish the effect of falciparum malarial infection on cholesterol level and platelet counts. The level of parasitaemia and its correlation with cholesterol level and platelet count in malaria patients was investigated. Two hundred clinically diagnosed malaria patients and 200 age matched healthy blood donors were included in the current study. In each case, blood sample was analyzed for serum cholesterol level and platelet count to establish a correlation between such parameters with paraesitemia. Based on the results obtained, it was evident that there was a highly significant reduction in the serum cholesterol level and the platelet count in malaria patients having high levels of parasitaemia. The low levels of cholesterol and platelets in malaria patients provided basis for the possible use of such clinical data in the diagnosis of malaria in the absence of a positive blood film.