title: Splenic infarction and malaria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Splenic infarction is a well recognised complication of malaria that has been infrequently reported in the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review was performed to describe the spectrum of characteristics associated with this complication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most patients presented with fever, left upper quadrant pain and/or splenomegaly, but no specific symptoms or signs appear to predict underlying infarction. The majority of cases reported were associated with autochthonous Plasmodium vivax infections, whereas cases reported in travellers were mostly due to P. falciparum acquired in Africa.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Identification of infarction may allow specific recommendations for management, and associated complications such as splenic rupture should be excluded. Outcome is generally favourable and conservative management is the preferred option.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Department, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain Tropical Medicine and Clinical Parasitology Unit, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain ffnorman@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Francesca F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Department, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rojas-Marcos
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Department, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: José-Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hermida-Donate
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Department, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain Tropical Medicine and Clinical Parasitology Unit, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Begoña
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Monge-Maillo
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Department, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain Tropical Medicine and Clinical Parasitology Unit, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Perez-Molina
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Department, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain Tropical Medicine and Clinical Parasitology Unit, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Rogelio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: López-Vélez
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000150:complications*; D013159:Splenic Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014195:Travel
keywords: Malaria; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium vivax; Splenic infarction; Traveller