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[Severe falciparum malaria treated with exchange transfusion]
Kristine Mørch1, Siri L Feruglio, Vidar Ormaasen
1Indremedisinsk avdeling Aust-Agder sykehus 4809 Arendal.
Summary
Exchange transfusions can be lifesaving for severe malaria patients when treatment is optimal. Prompt diagnosis and intervention are crucial for improving outcomes in acute falciparum malaria cases.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Hematology
- Tropical Medicine
Background:
- Acute severe malaria presents a significant health risk, even in non-endemic regions like Norway.
- Effective and timely treatment is paramount for improving patient prognosis.
Observation:
- Two young Norwegian women contracted severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria after traveling to endemic areas.
- Initial symptoms were misdiagnosed as flu, leading to delayed hospital admission and treatment.
- Both patients presented with high parasitemia, jaundice, thrombocytopenia, and elevated creatinine levels.
Findings:
- One patient experienced severe renal failure and cerebral involvement, requiring hemodialysis and exchange transfusion.
- The second patient underwent exchange transfusion due to high parasitemia (40-50%).
- Both patients recovered completely following treatment, highlighting the efficacy of exchange transfusions in severe cases.
Implications:
- Optimal diagnostics and treatment are critical to reduce the high case-fatality rate of severe falciparum malaria.
- Exchange transfusion emerges as a potentially life-saving intervention for critically ill malaria patients.
- This case series underscores the importance of considering malaria in febrile travelers returning from endemic regions.