A STUDY ON SEROPOSITIVITY OF PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM AND PAN MALARIAL SPEICES AMONG FEBRILE PATIENTS ATTENDING MIMS GENERAL HOSPITAL, NELLIMARLA, VIZIANAGARAM BY USING PARAHIT TOTAL RAPID TEST KIT METHOD.

Malaria, at one time a rural disease, diversified under the pressure of developments into various ecotypes. These ecotypes have been identified as forest malaria, urban malaria, rural malaria, industrial malaria, border malaria and migration malaria; the latter cutting across boundaries of various epidemiological types. In the present study, an attempt has been made to know the seropositivity of Plasmodium falciparum and Pan Malarial species among the febrile patients attending MIMS General Hospital, Nellimarla, Vizianagaram from January 2013 to December 2014. Out of total no. of patient samples(n=1021)collected, 36(3.52%)were seropositive. Out of total no. of seropositive patients(n=36), 20(55.55%) were males, 10(27.77%)were females and 06(16.66%) were children. In the present study, out of total no. of seropositive patients(n=36), 05(13.89%) were positive for Plasmodium falciparum, 19(52.78%) were positive for Pan Malarial species and 12(33.33%) were positive for mixed infection with Plasmodium falciparum and Pan Malarial species. Out of “20” seropositive males, 01(20%) patient was seropositive for Plasmodium falciparum, 14(73.68%) were positive for Pan malarial species and 05(41.67%) were positive for mixed infection with Plasmodium falciparum and Pan Malarial species. Out of “10” seropositive females, 04(80%) were positive for Plasmodium falciparum, 02(10.53%) were positive for Pan Malarial species and 04(33.33%) for mixed infection with Plasmodium falciparum and Pan Malarial species. Out of “06” seropositive children, 03(15.79%) were positive for Pan Malarial species, 03(25%) for mixed infection with Plasmodium falciparum and Pan Malarial species and there were no seropositives for single Plasmodium falciparum infection. The test is intended only for initial screening and reactive samples should be confirmed by a supplemental assay such as microscopic examination of blood. The present study reveals that rapid diagnostic tests are easy to use, reliable and simple to interpret. Rapid diagnostic tests are more suited to health workers in situations where health services are defined or absent. Therefore, these tests can be used as epidemiological tools for the rapid screening of malaria.