Vivax malaria presenting with myelitis: a rare complication

Area of Science:

• Tropical Medicine
• Neurology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Neurological complications are common in Plasmodium falciparum malaria.
• The role of Plasmodium vivax in causing neurological manifestations, including severe malaria, is increasingly recognized but not fully established.
• Dorsal cord myelitis is a rare neurological complication associated with malaria.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of myelitis in the context of Plasmodium vivax malaria.
• To investigate the association between P. vivax infection and neurological complications.
• To highlight the effectiveness of antimalarial treatment for P. vivax-induced myelitis.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a patient with Plasmodium vivax malaria presenting with myelitis.
• Clinical assessment and diagnosis of myelitis and malaria.
• Monitoring of patient response to standard antimalarial treatment.

Main Results:

• The patient presented with myelitis, a rare neurological complication, during a P. vivax malaria infection.
• The myelitis symptoms, including those leading to paraplegia, showed significant improvement following antimalarial therapy.
• This case supports the potential for P. vivax to cause severe neurological disease.

Conclusions:

• Plasmodium vivax malaria can be associated with severe neurological complications such as myelitis.
• Antimalarial treatment is effective in managing neurological manifestations of P. vivax malaria.
• Further research is warranted to understand the pathogenesis and incidence of P. vivax-associated neurological syndromes.