Multiple Splenic Infarcts Complicating Plasmodium vivax Malaria

Neha Tripathi1, Abhijeet Saha, Manpreet Kaur

  • 1From the Department of Pediatrics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi, India.

Pediatric Emergency Care
|October 9, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Splenic infarction is a rare Plasmodium vivax malaria complication. This case highlights splenic infarction with acute kidney injury in a child, emphasizing the need for surgical emergency evaluation.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Malariology
  • Nephrology

Background:

  • Plasmodium vivax malaria can present with rare complications.
  • Splenic infarction is an uncommon but serious manifestation.

Observation:

  • A 13-year-old male presented with severe left hypochondrium pain.
  • The patient had Plasmodium vivax malaria and acute kidney injury.

Findings:

  • The case involved splenic infarction as a complication of P. vivax malaria.
  • Treatment included intravenous artesunate and oral primaquine.

Implications:

  • Left hypochondrium pain in children with P. vivax malaria warrants evaluation for splenic infarction.
  • Clinicians should consider surgical emergencies such as rupture or abscess.
  • This case underscores the importance of recognizing unusual malaria complications.