The profiles of packed cells volume, plasma electrolytes and glucose levels in malarial infected patients

Fifty patients (18 males, 32 females) with malaria infection and 50 apparently healthy control subjects (22 males, 28 females) were recruited for the study. Hematocrit level (PCV) was determined using Heco C haematology analyzer. Plasma electrolytes (Na+, K+, HCO3-, Cl-), and glucose were respectively analyzed by SM23A Spectrophotometer, using TECO DIAGNOSTICS and RANDOX enzymatic glucose methods respectively. The results showed a significant reduction in the mean values of PCV (30.04 ± 5.31%), Na+ (131.56 ± 6.63 mmol/L), and glucose (85.92 ± 13.85 mg/dL) in the malaria-infected subjects compared with the mean values of PCV (38.74 ± 3.12%), Na+ (134.14 ± 5.95 mmol/L), and glucose (92.40 ± 13.99 mg/dL) (P < 0.05) obtained from the control subjects. We observed higher significant mean values of K+ (3.93 ± 0.79 mmol/L) and HCO3- (23.56 ± 2.55 mmol/L) in the malariainfected subjects compared with the control mean values of K+ (3.62 ± 0.51 mmol/L) and HCO3- (23.48 ± 2.02 mmol/L) (P < 0.05). The mean values for chloride observed in the malaria-infected subjects, Cl- (99.52 ± 7.44) was higher than the observed mean in the control subjects, Cl- (99.50 ± 6.33), but was not statistically significant P > 0.05. The mean (±standard deviation) of PCV, Na+, K+, HCO3-, Cl- and glucose in malariainfected patients of different age groups were compared with the age-matched controls, and there were significant differences only in the age groups involving PCV and potassium in the 1–20 and >40 age brackets. This study has shown the importance of electrolyte management in patients with severe malaria to prevent attendant physiological failure during complications.