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Sudden death due to cerebral malaria: a case report
S Prat1, G Desoubeaux, Th Lefrancq
1Institut Médico-légal, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Tours, Université François Rabelais de Tours, 37044 Tours Cedex 9, France. sebastienprat@hotmail.fr
Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
|August 6, 2013
Summary
Sudden deaths in young individuals may indicate malaria, even post-mortem. This case highlights cerebral malaria as a cause of unexpected fatality after travel to Mali.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Pathology
- Tropical Medicine
- Parasitology
Background:
- Malaria diagnosis is typically ante-mortem.
- Post-mortem diagnosis of malaria is infrequently reported.
- Sudden deaths in young individuals can raise suspicion of unnatural causes, prompting medical examiner investigation.
Observation:
- A 24-year-old man died unexpectedly days after returning from Mali, Africa.
- The death was investigated thoroughly post-mortem.
- Cerebral malaria was identified as the cause of death.
Findings:
- Post-mortem examination confirmed cerebral malaria.
- The pathological mechanisms leading to fatal cerebral malaria were analyzed.
- This case underscores the importance of considering malaria in post-mortem investigations.
Implications:
- Medical examiners should consider malaria in cases of sudden, unexplained death, particularly in travelers returning from endemic areas.
- Understanding the pathological features of fatal malaria is crucial for accurate post-mortem diagnosis.
- This case contributes to the limited literature on post-mortem malaria, aiding future investigations.
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