title: Malaria Parasite Density Estimation using Actual and Assumed White Blood Cells Count in Children in Eastern Sudan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Estimating malaria parasite count is needed for estimating the severity of the disease and during the follow-up.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to determine the malaria parasite density among children using actual white blood cell (WBC) and the assumed WBC counts (8.0 × 10(9)/l).
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted at New Halfa Hospital, Sudan. WBC count and count of asexual malaria parasite were performed on blood films.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and three children were enrolled. The mean (SD) WBCs was 6.2 (2.9) cells × 10(9)/l. The geometric mean (SD) of the parasite count using the assumed WBCs (8.0 × 10(9)/l cells/μl) was significantly higher than that estimated using the actual WBC count [7345.76 (31,038.56) vs. 5965 (28,061.57) rings/μl,p = 0.042].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Malaria parasitemia based on assumed (8.0 × 10(9)/) WBCs is higher than parasitemia based on actual WBCs.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan and.
authors.forename: Jalal A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bilal
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Gasim I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Gasim
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Amani H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Karsani
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan and.
authors.forename: Leana M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Elbashir
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan and ishagadam@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ishag
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Adam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000379:methods; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000469:parasitology*; D008288:Malaria / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D059208:Parasite Load / Q000379:methods*; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013397:Sudan
keywords: Sudan; children; malaria; parasite; white cell