Cerebral malaria owing to Plasmodium vivax: case report.
Cerebral malaria is a diffuse encephalopathy associated with seizures and status epilepticus which can occur in up to one-third of children with severe malaria, particularly that caused by Plasmodium falciparum. We report a unique case of P. vivax infection complicated by status epilepticus. A 4-year-old boy was admitted to the emergency outpatient clinic with intractable seizures for the previous hour. During resuscitation, two episodes of left-focal tonic convulsions occurred and he received phenytoin. Because of a history of P. vivax infection in the family 3 months previously, a blood slide for malaria was undertaken. Thin blood smears demonstrated P. vivax. He was treated with chloroquine and primaquine. An initial EEG was normal but after 3 months of follow-up a second EEG showed generalised epileptic activity. Rarely, cerebral malaria is a presenting complication or occurs during the course of P. vivax infection. In endemic areas such as Turkey, the possibility of cerebral malaria should be considered.
Ozen
Metehan
M
Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey. metehanoz@yahoo.com
Gungor
Serdal
S
Atambay
Metin
M
Daldal
Nilgün
N
D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000469:parasitology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016779:Malaria, Cerebral / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011319:Primaquine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D014421:Turkey
D000962:Antimalarials; D002738:Chloroquine; D011319:Primaquine