Association between Plasmodium falciparum parasite index and renal function in children

Abstract

Background Falciparum malaria is an acute systemic disease that can cause multi organ disorders including in kidney. The aim of this study was to figure out the association between P.falciparum parasite index and renal function in children by measuring ureum, creatinine, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Methods An analytic prospective study was conducted on all hos- pitalized falciparum malaria patients in the Department of Child Health, Manado Central General Hospital from November 2001- February 2002. Low parasitemia was defined if P.falciparum found was ≤100/100 fields and high parasitemia if >1/1 field. Data were analyzed by chi-square and student t–test. Results Among 34 patients, there were 11 with high parasitemia and 23 with low parasitemia. There were 19 with increased ureum and 8 with increased creatinine. There was significant elevation of ureum in high parasitemia (n=10) compared to that in low para- sitemia patients (n=9) with p=0.004. The increase of serum creati- nine was found in 2 high parasitemia and in 6 low parasitemia patients (p=0.611). Mean GFR was 107.63±30.62 in high and 121.94±44.06 in low parasitemia patients (p=0.341). Conclusion There was a significant association between P.falciparum parasite index and serum ureum. But there was no significant association between parasite index and creatinine or GFR

Keywords

• Plasmodium falciparum
• parasitemia
• ureum
• creatinine
• glomerular filtration rate