The haematology of Plasmodium vivax before and after chloroquine and primaquine treatment in north Madras area.

Changes in haematological parameters were studied in 35 Plasmodium vivax infected patients and compared with those in an equal number of normal subjects. Patients showed a high proportion of schizonts of P. vivax (1-2%). Hb, PCV and RBC values were significantly decreased (p less than 0.001) with increasing parasitaemia. Osmotic fragility was slightly increased (15%) when compared to controls and ranged from 0.385-0.405 (50% hypo-osmotic haemolysis given at gm/dl of NaCl) with increasing parasitaemia in the patients. Decreased levels of lymphocyte and increased levels of eosinophils and monocytes were seen in P. vivax infected patients. However, after treatment with chloroquine and primaquine, all the haematological parameters were restored to near normal levels.