[Kidney failure associated with Plasmodium falciparum infection]

Plasmodium falciparum infection may be a cause of acute renal failure (ARF). Whereas renal failure appears to be a common complication of severe malaria in adults, it seldom occurs in children. The authors report a case of a previously healthy 9-year-old child, who was admitted with fever, vomits, diarrhoea, jaundice and obnubilation of consciencious. The results of laboratory tests performed confirmed the diagnosis of falciparum malaria. At the 2nd day of hospitalization she was in ARF and dialysis was necessary. We admitted that the probable underlying factors leading to this complication were: intravascular haemolysis, volume depletion, hypotension and hyperparasitaemia. Despite the presence of predictive factors of bad outcome the evolution was favourable with gradual recuperation of renal function.