Vivax malaria presenting with cerebral malaria and convulsions

Abstract

A patient was admitted with fever, vomiting, restlessness and convulsions. He was febrile and unconscious. Laboratory tests showed a low platelet count and ruled out enteric fever and dengue. His peripheral blood smear was positive for Plasmodium vivax. The presence of P. vivax monoinfection was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing. The report highlights the importance of considering the possibility of complications even in P. vivax malaria and formulation of strategies accordingly. © 2010 W. Stefański Institute of Parasitology, PAS.