Mona Abd El-fattah Ahmed
Ain-Shams University, Egypt
Title: A case of cerebral malaria due to Plasmodium vivax
Biography
Biography: Mona Abd El-fattah Ahmed
Abstract
Introduction: Cerebral malaria is a diffuse encephalopathy presenting with neurological symptoms including unarousable coma of more than 30 minutes duration associated with or without seizures. It can occur in up to one-third of patients with severe malaria particularly that caused by Plasmodium falciparum, but rarely it could be occurring during the course of P. vivax. We report a distinctive case of cerebral malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax
Material and Methods: This is a case report study carried out in Nov. 2011 at King Abdullah Medical City, KSA; a Tertiary care hospital. We studied the clinical profile, laboratory and laboratory investigations, treatment and outcome.
Results: The patient was an adult Indian female pilgrim, 29 years old. The clinical features noted were attacks of convulsions, extensive vacuities, septic shock, anemia, pneumonia and renal dysfunction. The species diagnosis was made on thin blood smears demonstrated P. vivax and confirmed by antigen and antibody detection techniques. P. falciparum was excluded by all methods.
Conclusion: Rarely, cerebral malaria is a presenting complication or occurs during the course of P. vivax infection. This case demonstrates that sole Plasmodium vivax can induce severe cerebral injury. The unique epidemiology of malaria in India, where P. vivax predominates over Plasmodium falciparum may be related to atypical presentation.
