Guillain-Barré Syndrome Following Malaria: A Rare Case Report From Rural Ethiopia and Literature Review

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute immune-mediated polyradiculoneuropathy often triggered by infections. Malaria, a common parasitic disease in endemic regions, has rarely been associated with GBS. We report a case of a 21-year-old male from rural Ethiopia who developed GBS following Plasmodium vivax malaria. The patient presented with ascending paralysis, areflexia, dysphagia, dysarthria, and autonomic dysfunction. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed albumin-cytologic dissociation, which further strengthens the diagnosis of GBS. He was successfully treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and supportive care. The patient achieved full recovery after 8 weeks from the onset of weakness. This case highlights the importance of considering GBS in patients with recent malaria infection and neurological deficits, particularly in malaria-endemic regions. The rarity of such cases in the literature and the unique clinical course make this report noteworthy.