Haematological studies in malaria affected patients in North Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Malaria is a potentially fatal blood disease caused by a parasite that is transmitted to human and animal hosts by the Anopheles mosquito. The human parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, is dangerous not only because it digests the red blood cell’s haemoglobin, but also become it changes the adhesive properties of the cell it inhibits. This change in turn causes the cell to stick to the walls of blood vessels. It becomes especially dangerous when the infected blood cells stick to the capillaries in the brain obstructing blood flow, condition called cerebral malaria. A study was undertaken to compare certain serological parameters viz. Hb content, total blood cell count, WBC differential count, platelet count, E.S.R, P.C.V, M.C.V and M.C.H.C between normal persons and malaria affected patients coming for check-up in Primary Health Centres in North Chennai to find out any specific variations.