MALARIAL PARASITE SCREENING OF TROOPS RETURNING FROM UNITED NATIONS MISSIONS TO PAKISTAN

ABSTRACT Objective: To establish efficacy of malaria prevention programs by screening troops returning from United Nations peace-keeping services in high risk areas in Africa for malarial parasites. Study Design: Quantitative analysis. Place of Study of Study: Combined Military Hospital, Kharian, fr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPakistan Armed Forces medical journal no. 1; p. 87
Main Authors Muhammad Qaiser Alam Khan, Shaheen, Nasira, Romesa Qaiser Khan
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Rawalpindi Knowledge Bylanes 28.02.2021
AsiaNet Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd
Subjects
Anopheles
Antigens
Disease prevention
Health aspects
Infection
Infections
Malaria
Microscopy
Military personnel
Mosquitoes
Parasites
Peacekeeping forces
Plasmodium falciparum
Pyrimethamine
Soldiers
China
Pakistan
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Summary:ABSTRACT Objective: To establish efficacy of malaria prevention programs by screening troops returning from United Nations peace-keeping services in high risk areas in Africa for malarial parasites. Study Design: Quantitative analysis. Place of Study of Study: Combined Military Hospital, Kharian, from Jan 2017 to Jan 2019. Methodology: In this cross sectional study, individuals of regiments returning to Pakistan from high risk areas in Africa were screened for malarial parasites. A total of 1632 samples were analyzed during this time frame. Informed consent was taken at the individual and institutional level. Blood samples obtained from each participant were tested by both immuno-chromatographic techniques and peripheral blood films. Results: Total 1632 individuals were screened for malarial parasites. Peripheral blood slides were negative in all individuals except one. Immuno-chromatographic techniques for detection of malarial parasites were positive in 17 individuals for Plasmodium falciparum antigen. Only one individual had both Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum positivity via both methods. All of them were asymptomatic at the time of screening, had a past history of high grade fever treated with anti-malarial drugs and were admitted for observation and follow up. Conclusion: Despite the high prevalence of malaria in Africa, the current prevention protocols prove to be highly efficacious in protecting United Nations peace-keeping forces from infection and lowering mortality rates.
ISSN:0030-9648
2411-8842
DOI:10.51253/pafmj.v71i1.4529