title: A bedside dipstick method to detect Plasmodium falciparum.
abstract: We conducted this study to determine efficacy of Parasight-F (an HRP-II antigen dipstick method to detect P. Falciparum) in children. A total of 30 children were enrolled in the age group of 2 months to 12 years whose peripheral smear showed asexual forms of Plasmodium falciparum. All patients were tested for presence of HRP-II antigen of Plasmodium falciparum in their blood by the Parasight-F dipstick test by either an EDTA sample or a finger prick blood sample. The sensitivity of Parasight-F was 83.3 % However, the sensitivity of Parasight-F to detect Plasmodium Falciparum in case of mixed Plasmodium (Vivax + Falciparum) infection was only 25 %. Also, all patients less than 6 months of age had a negative Parasight-F test. Parasitic index, prior treatment with antimalarials or severity of Falciparum malaria have no effect on the sensitivity of Parasight-F test. We conclude that Parasight-F is an effective tool for diagnosis of Plasmoduim falciparum malaria in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Seth G.S. Medical College and KEM Hospital, Parel, Mumbai-400012, India. irashah86@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ira
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Deshmukh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008288:Malaria / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011506:Proteins; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000099053:Histidine-Rich Glycoprotein
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D011506:Proteins; D000099053:Histidine-Rich Glycoprotein