scholarly journals Impact of malaria on haematological parameters of urban, peri-urban and rural residents in the Ashanti region of Ghana: a cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
Abdul-Hakim Mutala ◽  
Kingsley Badu ◽  
Christian Owusu ◽  
Samuel Kekeli Agordzo ◽  
Austine Tweneboah ◽  
...  

Background: We aimed at investigating the impact of malaria on the haematological parameters of residents from different demographic settlements in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Malaria parasites trigger changes in certain haematological parameters, which may result in a number of clinical manifestations. Differences in demographic settlements, such as rural, peri-urban and urban settlements may also influence these changes, but this has not been extensively studied in Ghana. Methods: We conducted a hospital-based, cross-sectional study from January to December 2018 in three different settlements. A total of 598 participants were recruited. Blood smears were examined to detect and quantify malaria parasitaemia, while haematological parameters were measured using a haematology analyser. Results: Participants from the rural settlement had the highest malaria prevalence (21.3%) compared to urban (11.8%) and peri-urban areas (13.3%); however, the peri-urban area had the highest median parasite density (568; IQR=190.0-1312.0). Age was significantly associated with the odds of malaria positivity (OR: 0.97; CI:0.96 — 0.99; p=4.96*10-4). When haematological parameters of the malaria-infected study participants were compared to the parameters of uninfected participants, red blood cell count (p=0.017), haemoglobin (p=0.0165), haematocrit (p=0.0015), mean corpuscular volume (p=0.0014), plateletcrit (p<0.0001) and platelet count (p<0.0001) were all significantly lower in the malaria infected group. In addition to age, haemoglobin and plateletcrit levels were also inversely correlated with the odds of testing positive for malaria, suggesting that children who were anaemic and/or thrombocytopaenic were likely to be infected. After fitting the data to a logistic regression model comprising the three variables, the model correctly categorised 78% of uninfected study participants, but only 50% of the malaria-positive participants. Conclusions: Study participants who were positive for malaria were younger and had low haemoglobin and plateletcrit levels compared to uninfected individuals. Further studies are needed to more precisely elucidate the relationship between malaria infection,demographic and haematological parameters.

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
Abdul-Hakim Mutala ◽  
Kingsley Badu ◽  
Christian Owusu ◽  
Samuel Kekeli Agordzo ◽  
Austine Tweneboah ◽  
...  

Background: We aimed at investigating the impact of malaria on the haematological parameters of residents from different demographic settlements in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Malaria parasites trigger changes in certain haematological parameters, which may result in a number of clinical manifestations. Differences in demographic settlements, such as rural, peri-urban and urban settlements may also influence these changes, but this has not been extensively studied in Ghana. Methods: We conducted a hospital-based, cross-sectional study from January to December 2018 in three different settlements. A total of 598 participants were recruited. Blood smears were examined to detect and quantify malaria parasitaemia, while haematological parameters were measured using a haematology analyser. Results: Participants from the rural settlement had the highest malaria prevalence (21.3%) compared to the urban (11.8%) and peri-urban areas (13.3%); however, the peri-urban area had the highest median parasite density (568; IQR=190.0-1312.0). Age was significantly associated with the odds of malaria positivity (OR: 0.97; CI:0.96 — 0.99). When haematological parameters of the malaria-infected study participants were compared to the parameters of uninfected participants, red blood cell count (p=0.017), haemoglobin (p=0.0165), haematocrit (p=0.0015), mean corpuscular volume (p=0.0014), plateletcrit (p<0.0001) and platelet count (p<0.0001) were all significantly lower in the malaria infected group. In addition to age, haemoglobin and plateletcrit levels were also inversely correlated with the odds of testing positive for malaria, suggesting that children who were anaemic and/or thrombocytopaenic were likely to be infected. After fitting the data to a logistic regression model comprising the three variables, the model correctly categorised 78% of uninfected study participants, but only 50% of the malaria-positive participants. Conclusions: Study participants who were positive for malaria were younger and had low haemoglobin and plateletcrit levels compared to uninfected individuals. Further studies are needed to more precisely elucidate the relationship between malaria infection,demographic and haematological parameters.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
Abdul-Hakim Mutala ◽  
Kingsley Badu ◽  
Christian Owusu ◽  
Samuel Kekeli Agordzo ◽  
Austine Tweneboah ◽  
...  

Background: This study aimed at investigating haematological changes in malaria patients across different demographic settlements. Malaria parasites trigger changes in certain haematological parameters, which may result in a number of clinical manifestations. Differences in demographic settlements, such as rural, peri-urban and urban settlements, may also influence these changes, but this has rarely been studied. Methods: We conducted a hospital-based, cross-sectional study from January to December 2018 in three different settlements. A total of 598 participants were recruited. Giemsa-stained blood smears were examined to detect and quantify malaria parasitaemia, while haematological parameters were measured using a haematology analyser. Results: The rural settlement had the highest malaria prevalence compared to the other study communities (p=0.009). The difference in parasite densities across the three communities was also significant (p=0.0149). When the malaria-infected population was compared to the uninfected, there were differences in red blood cell count (p=0.0170), haemoglobin levels (p=0.0165), mean corpuscular volume (p=0.0139) and platelet counts (p<0.0001). The difference in median white blood cell (p-value <0.0001), neutrophil (p-value <0.0001) and lymphocyte (p-value <0.0269) count were significantly higher in infected patients from the peri-urban area compared to malaria patients from the rural and urban areas. There were also significant differences in platelet (p=0.0002), plateletcrit (p=0.0041), mean platelet volume (p=0.0009) and platelet large cell ratio (p=0.0046) levels between patients from the urban, peri-urban and rural areas. Conclusions: Patients infected with malaria generally had low red blood cell, haemoglobin and platelets in comparison to uninfected patients. There were also significant differences in several haematological parameters between malaria-infected patients from the three demographic settlements. Atypical results from routine haematological assays, especially findings of anaemia and thrombocytopenia, may be indicative of malaria and, in cases where the infection is asymptomatic, may improve diagnosis by prompting a more thorough search for the parasite in the peripheral circulation.


2022 ◽  
pp. 263394472110586
Author(s):  
Anjana Nalina Kumari Kesavan Nair ◽  
Jisharaj Vijayakumari Rajasekharan Nair ◽  
Siji Vincent Swarnabai ◽  
Reshma Rajan Sudha ◽  
Alice Metilda Mendez ◽  
...  

Introduction The impact of SARS-CoV-2 is not only on physical health but also on mental health. This pandemic raised concerns of fear, anxiety, and stress among patients affected with the disease. Quarantine and home isolation might have created psychological distress and helplessness in patients due to social and economic reasons. This study aimed in assessing the level of perceived stress and factors associated with it among SARS-CoV-2-affected young adults who were under home isolation. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted among 147 SARS-CoV-2-affected young adults who were under home isolation during June 2021 to August 2021. A semi-structured proforma was created using KoBo Toolbox for humanitarian response for data collection. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) was used for measurement of stress among COVID-19 patients. The questionnaire was shared in online platform. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23.0. Significance of association was tested using chi square test and independent sample t test. Logistic regression was done to predict the factors associated with perceived stress. Results Out of the 147 study participants, 56.5% were females and 43.5% were males. Symptoms were present in 94 (63.9%) of patients. The mean age of the study participants was 26 (10.5) years. The mean PSS score was 17.5 (6.4). Among the cases under home isolation, 24.5% had low stress levels, 68% had moderate stress levels, and 7.5% had severe stress levels. Feeling of loneliness during home isolation (odds ratio [OR]: 4.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.9-11.63], P = .008), presence of elderly or under-5 children in the same house (OR: 15.45, 95% CI [2.03-117.5], P = .001), and presence of cough ( P = .05) were found to be significantly associated with higher PSS scores. Age and sleep were negatively correlated with stress score. Conclusion One-third of the study participants had moderate to severe levels of perceived stress. Age, sleep hours, presence of cough, presence of under-5 children or elderly in the same house, and feeling of loneliness during home isolation were found to be significantly associated with high perceived stress level scores.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 33949-33949
Author(s):  
Razieh Sadat Mousavi Roknabadi ◽  
◽  
Mahdi Alibeigi ◽  
Mehrdad Sharifi ◽  
Reyhaneh Sadat Mousavi Roknabadi ◽  
...  

Background: Methanol poisoning is a serious problem in public health, especially in developing countries. The present study aimed to evaluate the incidence of visual disturbances in patients with acute methanol poisoning in the south of Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study (from 21/March/2014 to 21/March/2019) was conducted on all adult patients’ medical records who were referred to Ali-Asghar Hospital in Shiraz City, Iran, with acute methanol poisoning. The required data were collected using a data-gathering form and were then analyzed. Results: Twenty male patients were enrolled in this research, with Mean±SD age of 33.15±10.40 years. Visual disturbances were observed in 15(75%) of the study subjects, as the most common clinical manifestations. Blurred vision (40%) and blindness (35%) were the most frequent visual disturbances in the study participants. None of the study subjects reported photophobia. The explored variables did not differ between patients with visual disturbances and those without visual disturbances. Only one patient who encountered blindness was expired. Conclusion: The incidence of visual disturbances in the study patients with acute methanol poisoning was higher than that of similar studies


Author(s):  
Dnyanesh Limaye ◽  
Vaidehi Limaye ◽  
Gerhard Fortwengel ◽  
Gerard Krause

Background: Concerns about practice of self-medication (SM) world across are based on associated risks such as adverse reactions, disease masking, increased morbidity, wastage of resources and antibiotic resistance. SM is likely to differ between rural and urban areas of India. Systematically retrieved evidence on these differences are required in order to design targeted measures for improvement.Methods: We conducted a cross sectional study among the general population in urban (Matunga) and rural (Tala) areas of Maharashtra, India to explore SM practices and its associated factors. Face to face interviews were conducted using the validated study questionnaire. Data was analyzed by using descriptive and analytical statistical methods.Results: A total of 1523 inhabitants from 462 households were interviewed between [June/2015] and [August /2015], 778 (51%) of them in rural and 745 (49%) in urban areas. Overall self-medication prevalence was 29.1% (urban; 51.5%, rural; 7.7%, OR 12.7, CI 9.4-17.2) in the study participants. Participants having chronic disease (OR: 3.15, CI: 2.07-4.79) and from urban areas (OR:15.38, CI:8.49-27.85) were more likely to self-medicate. Self-medication practices were characterized by having old prescription (41.6%) as the main reason, fever (39.4%) as top indication and NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Agents) as the most self-medicated category of drugs (40.7%).Conclusions: The present study documented that the prevalence of self-medication is associated with place of residence, and health status of the study participants. Self-medication is still a major issue in western Maharashtra, India and is majorly an urban phenomenon. Status of implementation of existing regulations should be reconsidered. 


Author(s):  
Sameeya Furmeen Salam ◽  
Mayuri Reddy Reddy

Background: Policemen are the real heroes of our country, but most people are unaware of the amount of stress they face every day. Their work involves protecting life, safeguarding properties by vigilant patrolling and maintaining law and order in the society. Hence the present study on the police personnel of Chitradurga city will help to reveal the impact of their job on their day to day life. The objectives of the study were to find out the stress level among the police personnel; to assess the influence of demographic, occupational and personal factors on the stress.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among the police personnel in the five police stations in Chitradurga city for a period of one year. Complete enumeration method was used to include 282 police men and women in the study. A pre-designed, pre-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. The analysis was done using SPSS version 20. Appropriate statistical tests were applied.Results: The mean age of the participants was 36.13±10.33. The participants in the study were predominantly males, 89%. About 70.9% of the study participants were found to be stressed - 38.7% had mild stress, 26.2% had moderate stress and 6% had severe stress.Conclusions: The stress was found to be significantly associated with marital and socioeconomic status, station, shift work, having sustained injuries during work, attending court summons, smoking, alcohol consumption, tobacco chewing, less sleep and snoring. 


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 236-240
Author(s):  
Kiputa Thobias Gaudence ◽  
Roy Mwenechanya ◽  
Kennedy Choongo

Malaria is a protozoan disease and one of the leading causes of illness and deaths in the world. Malaria is predominant in the tropics and subtropics, and it is reported that malaria kills a child every minute. In Tanzania at least 40% of outpatient attendances are attributable to malaria. This study assessed the impact of Insecticidetreated nets (ITNs) + indoor residual spraying (IRS) in Geita district, IRS alone in Nyang’hwale district and compared the two interventions between the two districts of Tanzania. In a retrospective cross-sectional study, district malaria surveillance data for five years (2011- 2015) and two years (2013-2014) were collected and analyzed for Geita and Nyang’hwale districts respectively. A total of 1,387,805 ITNs were distributed and 435,719 households sprayed between 2011 and 2015, however IRS coverage was uneven. There was evidence of malaria prevalence reduction from 53% to 12% in Geita district within the five years of intervention. The ITNs coverage was associated with a reduction in malaria prevalence while IRS was not. In Nyang’hwale district malaria cases increased from 103,788 to 123,337 cases in 2013 and 2014 respectively, and were accompanied by decreased households sprayed from 49,554 to 41,632. Furthermore, only ITNs had a significant effect in the combination. However, even at 100% ITNs coverage, the estimated probability of finding malaria cases would not be zero. Therefore, based on this study, the use of the two interventions that both use pyrethroids in combination has insignificant benefits and should be avoided unless IRS insecticide is not a pyrethroid.


2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jolanta Majer ◽  
Sandra Pyda ◽  
Jerzy Robert Ladny ◽  
Antonio Rodriguez-Nunez ◽  
Lukasz Szarpak

2020 ◽  
Vol 103 (5) ◽  
pp. 465-471

Background: Hyponatremia is associated with unfavorable outcomes in many cases. The mainstay of hyponatremia treatment depends on its symptoms and etiology. However, etiologies, clinical manifestations, and factors associated with severe symptomatic hyponatremia have been rarely reported. Objective: To analyze and report etiologies, clinical manifestations, and factors associated with severe symptomatic hyponatremia. Materials and Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, the authors enrolled hospitalized patients with hyponatremia who had consulted a nephrologist between October 1, 2017, and October 31, 2018. Their baseline characteristics and clinical manifestations were recorded. Etiologies were confirmed by the attending nephrology staff. Factors associated with severe symptomatic hyponatremia were evaluated using logistic regression analysis. Results: One hundred patients were included in this study. The syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis (SIAD), hypovolemia, and hydrochlorothiazide use were the leading hyponatremia etiologies. Hyponatremia etiologies differed between patients with community-acquired hyponatremia (n=50) and those with hospital-associated hyponatremia (n=50). Patients with communityacquired hyponatremia were older, presented with a higher frequency of severe symptomatic hyponatremia, and showed lower SNa-levels. Low SNa-levels were significantly associated with severe symptomatic hyponatremia (p=0.014). Conclusion: Hyponatremia remains an important health problem. SIAD, hypovolemia, and hydrochlorothiazide use are among the leading etiologies of hyponatremia. Low SNa-levels are associated with severe symptomatic hyponatremia; thus, physicians should pay close attention to low SNa-levels in hospitalized patients. Keywords: Hyponatremia, Symptomatic Hyponatremia, Community-acquired hyponatremia, Hospital-associated hyponatremia


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