Table 7.
Laboratory investigations
| Variables | Frequency |
|---|---|
| White blood cell count (n=231) | |
| Low | 14 (6.1) |
| Elevated | 44 (19.0) |
| Normal | 173 (74.9) |
| Platelet count (n=23) | |
| Low | 5 (2.2) |
| Elevated | 41 (17.8) |
| Normal | 184 (80.0) |
| Haemoglobin level (n=228) (g/dl) | |
| >10 | 169 (74.1) |
| <10 | 59 (25.9) |
| Serum iron (n=115) | |
| Normal | 35 (30.4) |
| Low | 80 (69.6) |
| Serum ferritin (n=111) | |
| Normal | 46 (41.4) |
| Low | 56 (50.5) |
| High | 9 (8.1) |
| Total iron binding capacity (n=83) | |
| Low | 12 (14.5) |
| Normal | 48 (57.8) |
| High | 23 (27.7) |
| Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (n=211) | |
| Normal | 67 (31.8) |
| High | 144 (68.2) |
| C-reactive protein (n=213) | |
| Normal | 38 (17.8) |
| High | 175 (82.2) |
| C-reactive protein level (n=164) | |
| <20 | 101 (61.6) |
| 20-40 | 29 (17.7) |
| >40 | 34 (20.7) |
| Pus cells observed on stool examination (n=165) | |
| Yes | 23 (13.9) |
| Entamoeba histolytica observed on stool examination (n=132) | |
| Yes | 7 (5.3) |