Occurrence of Malaria in the Local Population of Swat Valley, Pakistan
Occurrence of Malaria in the Local Population of Swat Valley, Pakistan
Hina Habib Syed1, Muzafar Shah2*, Shahid Sherzada3 and Masroor Elahi Babar1
ABSTRACT
The present study was carried out in District Swat from January to July, 2017. Blood samples were collected from all age groups patients visiting hospital labs and District Head Quarter Laboratory who were recommended for diagnosis of malaria. About 1050 patients were examined and malaria was detected through microscopy of thick and thin blood smears and rapid diagnostic test of which 118 (11.24%) were found to be infected with malaria parasite. Data was also collected sfrom other labs of District Swat which accumulated to a total of 9255 patients, among which 932 (10.07%) patients were found positive for malaria parasite. Male infected were 558 (59.87%) while 374 (40.13%) were female. The collective data showed majority of the infected patients belonged to age group 1-10 years (41.42%). The least infected were aged above 60 years (0.86%). Month wise prevalence was found highest in the month of July (39.48%) i.e. summer season and lowest in the month of February (2.25%) i.e. winter month. Patients tested for malaria parasite belonged to the following seven (7) Tehsils wherein the rate of positive infected cases in descending order was: Barikot > Kabal > Babuzai > Matta > Khwazakhela > Charbagh > Bahrain. It is concluded from this study that P. vivax is the prevalent malaria causing parasite in district Swat. No case of P. falciparum was recorded. Furthermore, male are infected more than female, and malaria is common in children and youth of the area.
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August 2020
Vol. 52, Iss. 4, Pages 1225-1630
