Abstract

Malaria is one of the most serious tropical diseases in the world and has been a health risk to humans for many generations. It is very widespread disease, covering many areas of Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Africa. It is also a major public health problem in Pakistan. Selenium is an essential antioxidant trace mineral for the human body. In the present study, Selenium concentration was determined in the serum of Patients with vivax and falciparum malaria (n=50) with comparison to healthy control subjects (n=50). Selenium was determined using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS, Model Varian A-20). The serum concentration of selenium determined to be in vivax 42.92±1.21, in falciparum 41.72±1.1 malaria were lower as compared to the 49.01±1.01in healthy control subjects. It is concluded that selenium supplementation should be recommended in the therapies used for the management in patients with viavx and falciparum malaria.