Severe Malaria in an Adult Patient from Low-Endemic Area in Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara

Abstract

Malaria is an infection caused by protozoa of the genus Plasmodium, commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Plasmodium falciparum causes the most severe form of the disease and may progress to life-threatening manifestations. This case describes a 26-year-old man who suffered cerebral malaria with multiple organ dysfunction and successfully recovered despite poor initial prognosis. Negligent and late diagnosis of malaria leads to severe complications and a worse prognosis. This case emphasizes despite living in a low-endemic malaria area, physicians should remain meticulous and consider malaria as differential diagnosis even after initially presenting with nonspecific symptoms. Consequently, malarial screening should be performed to modify the risk of mortality. Furthermore, close monitoring and early administration of intravenous artesunate are also particularly critical.

Recrudescent plasmodium falciparum malaria after head trauma: a case report with novel clinical perspective

“…Since the mortality rate among PfM patients with AKI is much higher than those without 21 , there should be a calling for novel prognostic tactics to predict whether a malaria patient would suffer AKI or not later on, and better monitoring the occurrence time order of different series of symptoms. Like in this case and other cases 22 , the kidney dysfunction symptom "black tea urine" and anomaly in kidney function laboratory examinations always come after the neurological symptoms such as headache and coma among PfM patients. Ignoring the treatments toward kidney protection in early period of malaria progression may cause the kidney injury to become more severe, and much more efforts need to be done afterwards to remedy it.…”