Fatal Cerebral Malaria with Multi-Organ Dysfunction and Oleander Poisoning

Abstract

Cerebral malaria is a clinical manifestation of the brain during Plasmodium falciparum infection, which may lead to fatal outcomes if left unattended or delayed in therapeutic management. It is often accompanied by multi-organ complications such as renal failure, respiratory distress, jaundice, severe anemia etc., further raising the degree of mortality. Over the years, the management of severe and cerebral malaria has improved radically but still the mortality rate in severe malaria is worrysome. An extremely uncommon case is demonstrated here, which is a classical illustration of malarial death due to CM and multi-organ dysfunction; complicated due to an episode of Oleander poisoning amidst. Falciparum malaria can have myriads of clinical presentations which may co-exist with other pathologies which is challenging for the clinicians, therefore, a high degree of suspicion followed by early diagnosis of malaria, may be more frequently pronounced in healthcare settings in malaria endemic areas to improve overall outcome and better management of malaria control programs.