Articles: malaria-complications.
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Hyponatraemia (serum sodium < 135 mmol/L) has long been recognized as a complication of malaria. However, few studies have been done in non-immune adult populations. It has not been investigated previously how hyponatraemia is distributed among the various Plasmodium species, and its association with malaria severity is unknown.The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to determine the prevalence of hyponatraemia and its association with malaria severity in a large cohort of patients with imported malaria caused by various Plasmodium species. ⋯ Hyponatraemia is common in imported malaria and is associated with severe falciparum malaria. From a clinical point of view, the predictive power of hyponatraemia for severe malaria is limited. The precise pathophysiological mechanisms of hyponatraemia in malaria require further study.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Jan 2010
Case ReportsEfficacy and safety of quinine-artesunate in an HIV-positive patient with severe falciparum malaria.
Severe falciparum malaria is a medical emergency that is associated with a high rate of mortality, even when treated in an Intensive Care Unit. Until recently, intravenous quinine was the standard treatment; however, artemisin derivatives are now regarded as the first-line treatment for multidrug-resistant falciparum malaria. Although several studies have demonstrated the superiority of Artesunate, this drug is not licensed in many countries. ⋯ Parasite clearance was rapidly achieved; however, on day IV, the patient developed acute respiratory distress syndrome that required mechanical ventilation. The patient was extubated on day XIV and discharged on day XXV. Due to its rapid action, artesunate was likely responsible for the good clinical outcome in this case; however, in order to clarify the role of this new combination therapy, further studies are required.
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J. Pediatr. Hematol. Oncol. · Oct 2009
Case ReportsChildhood Plasmodium vivax malaria with severe thrombocytopenia and bleeding manifestations.
Thrombocytopenia of varying magnitude, usually without hemorrhagic manifestations, is commonly observed in Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria. However, severe thrombocytopenia associated with bleeding manifestations in malarial infection is distinctly unusual. ⋯ He improved with antimalarial and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy. Clinicians caring for children should be aware of potential bleeding manifestations that may be the result of apparently innocuous infection like vivax malaria.
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Bull Soc Pathol Exot · Oct 2009
Comparative Study[Hepcidin and Plasmodium falciparum malaria in anemic school children in Mali].
Hepcidin is a peptide produced by hepatocytes and detectable in blood and urine. Urinary hepcidin excretion appeared to be significantly increasing in humans with acute and chronic infections or inflammatory diseases. However, the effects of common tropical parasitic infections on hepcidin have not been sufficiently examined. ⋯ Children with P. falciparum malaria excreted significantly higher levels of hepcidin than those with S. haematobium (chi2 = 3.86; p = 0.05) or without any infection (chi2 = 5.95; p = 0.01). Urinary hepcidin correlated significantly with CRP (Spearman's r = 0.59; p = 0.001) and serum ferritin (Spearman's r = 0.73; p = 0.003). Our study confirms the still limited evidence of an association between human malaria and increased urinary hepcidin and points out the need for further studies to define the contribution of hepcidin to anemia associated with this disease.
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Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Sep 2009
Case ReportsPlasmodium falciparum malaria presenting with vertebrobasilar stroke.
Cerebral malaria is a complication of Plasmodium falciparum malaria and can result in various neurological manifestations. We report a rare case of cerebral malaria with vertebrobasilar stroke, presenting predominantly with signs of lateral medullary and cerebellar infarctions. We suggest that, in patients presenting with fever and a concurrent vertebrobasilar stroke, the possibility of cerebral malaria should also be considered.