Thrombocytopenia in children with vivax malaria: a study from north India.

Objectives: To study incidence, severity and clinical significance of thrombocytopenia and to study recovery pattern of platelet counts in children with vivax malaria.

Methods: This was a retrospective hospital based descriptive case series. Cases of confirmed vivax malaria were studied and their Total Platelet Counts (TPC) evaluated daily till recovery and again after 1 wk on follow up visit.

Results: In this study out of 39 children of confirmed vivax malaria 22 had thrombocytopenia, having mean platelet count 48 × 10(9)/L on admission which showed a very quick recovery on treatment and by day 3 of treatment it rose to 126.5 × 10(9)/L without platelet transfusion. In untreated cases the lowest platelet counts was observed on day 5-6 and on treatment, platelet counts returned to normal without any platelet transfusion by 9th day. Even among children there are variations in different age groups and younger ones show more quicker recovery than older peers.

Conclusions: Vivax malaria is associated with transient thrombocytopenia which does not lead to significant bleeding in children.