Malaria prevalence in Malakand district, the north western region of Pakistan.

Objective: To check the prevalence of malaria in a specific geographical region.

Methods: The prospective study was conducted in Malakand, Pakistan, from January to December 2017, and comprised suspected malaria patients. Blood samples were collected during dry, rainy, and end-of-rainy season, with symptoms of malaria. Thick and thin film of blood were Giemsa-stained, stored in a secured slide box and were reconfirmed by microscopy expert at the Laboratory of District Head Quarter Hospital Batkhela and Tehsil Head Quarter Hospital Dargai in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Graph Pad 5 was used for data analysis.

Results: Of 1123 suspected patients, 300(26.7%) tested positive for malaria. Of the positive cases, 296(98.6%) were Plasmodium vivax and 4(1.3%) Plasmodium falciparum. No mixed-species infection and no case of Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium malariae were reported. Malaria was higher in those aged <16 followed by those in the 33-50 group and the least in 51-80 years group (p>0.05). Males were more infected than females (p>0.05). Individuals screened in the rainy season numbered more than those in the dry and post-rain season (p<0.05)..

Conclusions: Malaria was found to be highly prevalent in the rainy season.