STUDY ON THE CLINICAL FEATURES OF MALARIA AND EVALUATION OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF MALARIAL VECTORS IN KOLKATA

Abstract

Introduction: Malaria, caused by protozoa of the genus Plasmodium, remains a significant public health concern, especially in subtropical and tropical regions. Kolkata, in particular, has seen a high prevalence of malaria, with Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax being the primary species. This study investigates the clinical features and vector distribution of malaria in the Kolkata region. Aims and Objective: To evaluate the clinical features of malaria and corresponding vectors in Kolkata region. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study, conducted from January to May 2024, analyzed data from patients diagnosed with malaria over the past three years in Kolkata. Data were collected from hospital records, including blood reports, microscopy results, and patient histories. Patients were surveyed using a structured questionnaire to gather socio-economic and anthropometric data. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 27, with significance set at P