---
title: Does malaria infection worsen PMS symptoms? | Niyora
description: This was the first study to examine whether malaria parasites affect PMS. It found that students with PMS and malaria parasites had lower red blood cell level
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/influence-of-malaria-parasitemia-of-plasmodium-falciparum-on-the-prevalence-and-2017/
---

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- Does malaria infection worsen PMS symptoms?

Survey study, 2017

# Does malaria infection worsen PMS symptoms?

This was the first study to examine whether malaria parasites affect PMS. It found that students with PMS and malaria parasites had lower red blood cell levels, but it cannot prove parasites cause worse PMS.

 Early or limited evidence

150 undergraduate students aged 16-30

## What they did

Cross-sectional study of 150 undergraduate students aged 16-30. Researchers asked about PMS symptoms using diagnostic criteria and tested their blood for malaria parasites and red blood cell levels.

## What they found

Among 150 students, 105 (70%) had PMS symptoms. Common symptoms were lower abdominal pain (80%), joint and muscle pain (72%), and pimples or puffy face (65.3%). Thirty-one students (20.7%) tested positive for malaria parasites. Students with PMS had lower mean red blood cell levels than those without (0.30±0.033 versus 0.36±0.038, p=0.007).

## What it means for you

This is the first study on this topic, so the finding is uncertain. The study only looked at university students, so findings may not apply to all women. We cannot tell from this study whether parasites cause PMS or whether something else is responsible.

70%

had PMS symptoms

20.7%

positive for malaria parasites

0.30 vs 0.36

red blood cell level

## About the study

Original title Influence of Malaria Parasitemia of Plasmodium Falciparum on the Prevalence and Severity of Premenstrual Syndrome Authors Chigozie Ozoemena Ifeadike, George Uchenna Eleje, Nkiruka Rose Ukibe et al. Journal JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH Year 2017 Study design Survey study Participants 150 What was tested Testing for malaria parasites in students with and without PMS Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.7860/jcdr/2017/30472.10835](https://doi.org/10.7860/jcdr/2017/30472.10835)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)

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