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Plasmodium vivax malaria in children: uncommon manifestations

A Parakh1, N Agarwal, A Aggarwal

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadhur Hospital, Shadhara, Delhi, India.

Annals of Tropical Paediatrics
|November 28, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Severe Plasmodium vivax malaria is rising in children. This study reports six pediatric cases with severe anemia, cerebral malaria, and thrombocytopenia, highlighting the need for considering P. vivax in severe malaria diagnoses.

Area of Science:

  • Malariology
  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Tropical Medicine

Background:

  • Plasmodium vivax malaria is traditionally considered less virulent than P. falciparum.
  • Increasing reports suggest P. vivax can cause severe and fatal malaria, particularly in children.
  • Understanding the clinical spectrum of severe P. vivax is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.

Observation:

  • This case series reports on six children (1.5-11 years) with severe Plasmodium vivax malaria.
  • Presenting symptoms included cerebral malaria (three cases) and severe anemia (two cases).
  • Two children exhibited altered renal function, and all cases presented with thrombocytopenia.

Findings:

  • Severe Plasmodium vivax malaria presents with significant morbidity in pediatric populations.
  • Thrombocytopenia is a consistent finding in severe P. vivax infections.
  • Neurological and hematological complications are prominent features.

Implications:

  • Clinicians should consider P. vivax as a cause of severe malaria in children, even in regions where it's historically less common.
  • Early recognition and treatment of severe P. vivax malaria can improve patient outcomes.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying severe P. vivax pathogenesis.

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