Seroprevalence of Pediatric Malaria in Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan

Malaria is one of the most devastating protozoal diseases in under developing coun­tries like Pakistan where health facilities are scarce. It is the second most frequently reported disease with 4.5 million suspected cases in Pakistan. The current study was designed to determine the inci­dence of pediatric malaria in Quetta, Balochistan. The study was conducted at Children Hospital Quetta (CHQ) during July 2011march 2012. Blood samples were collected from 3418 clinically suspected and were evaluated using thin and thick blood films stained with Giemsa stain. Out of 3418 total of 230 (6.72%) children were found positive for any of the malarial para­sitic infestation. Plasmodium vivax was observed to be more common 54.34 % (n= 125/230) than P. falciparum 44.78% (n=103/230). Male children were 65.21% (150/230) i.e. two times more com­monly affected than female 34.78% (80/230) children. The prevalence among age groups was 7.41% (n=89/1200) in preschool-aged children aged 1-5 years, 7.11% (n=75/1054) in school-aged children aged 6—10 years while 6.78% (n=46/678) in 11-15 years-old children, and 6.66% (n=20/300) in >15 year-olds children. Peak prevalence was noted in summer and mild in winter. Mixed infection of (0.86%: 2/230) P. vivax and P. falciparum was also observed in two cases although no case of P. mala­riae or P. ovale infection was seen during entire study. The results reflect the higher prevalence of malaria in Quetta, Pakistan that poses a signifi­cant health threat and requires urgent attention of high-ups to launch programme to control the disease in the area.