Hyperreactive malarial splenomegaly and AIDS: proguanil prevents recurrent pneumonia

An Ethiopian immigrated to Israel and gave a positive test result for human immunodeficiency virus. Soon after, he was thrice admitted to hospital in 3 months for severe pneumonia. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome was diagnosed, as was hyperreactive malarial splenomegaly (HMS). Thereafter, during maintained proguanil treatment for HMS, the patient remained well for 16 months. Then, after another pneumonic illness, pneumococcal vaccine was administered. Proguanil was maintained for another 10 months and, despite declining CD4 cell counts, good health continued for a further 18 months.