Study to evaluate serum sodium, potassium and chloride level in malaria and its association with severity of malaria

Introduction: Malaria is life threatening protozoal infection caused by plasmodium species and it is major health problem in India. Electrolyte alternation is commonly occurring in infections like malaria due to effects of parasitaemia on host cells. The objectives of study were to assess serum level of sodium, potassium and chloride in malaria cases and to find association of electrolyte alteration with severity of malaria infection in different type of malaria. Materials and Methods: Total 70 cases of P. falciparum, 70 cases of P. vivax and 70 age matched healthy controls were included in the study. Diagnosis of malaria was confirmed by QBC (Quantified buffy coat) malaria test. Estimation of electrolyte was done by direct ISE method. Result: There were significantly decreased in mean sodium, potassium and chloride level in P. falciparum malaria cases compare to controls (P< 0> Conclusion: Hyponatraemia, hypokalaemia and hypochloremia are found in malaria particularly in P. falciparum type. Hyponatremia and hypokalemia are associated with severity of malaria infection.