Acute respiratory distress syndrome complicating Plasmodium vivax malaria.
Malaria is one of the most common infectious diseases in the world, and severe respiratory complications have been described mainly in association with Plasmodium falciparum. We describe a case of acute respiratory distress syndrome complicating infection with P. vivax in the setting of relatively low parasitemia in a 47-yr-old woman after a brief trip to Papua New Guinea. A review of the literature shows that pulmonary complications of P. vivax are rare but occur more frequently than generally acknowledged. Pathogenic mechanisms of these complications are discussed.
Tanios
M A
MA
Pulmonary and Critical Care Division, the Department of Medicine, New England Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
Kogelman
L
L
McGovern
B
B
Hassoun
P M
PM
D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D001900:Boston; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000628:therapy; D015767:Mefloquine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010219:Papua New Guinea; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000628:therapy; D014195:Travel
D000962:Antimalarials; D015767:Mefloquine