학술논문
An imported malaria case with repeated episodes of neurological syndromes resulting from different Plasmodium species
Document Type
Report
Author
Source
BMC Infectious Diseases. January 3, 2024, Vol. 24 Issue 1
Subject
Language
English
ISSN
1471-2334
Abstract
Author(s): Zheng Xiang[sup.1] , Longcan Zhou[sup.2] , Maohua Pan[sup.2] , Yucheng Qin[sup.2] , Yao Bai[sup.1] , Pien Qin[sup.2] , Weilin Zeng[sup.1] , Xiaosheng Wei[sup.2] , Yuxin Lu[sup.2] , Charurut Somboonwit[sup.3] [...]
Background Imported cerebral malaria (CM) cases in non-endemic areas are often misdiagnosed, which delays treatment. Post-malaria neurological syndrome (PMNS) after recovery from severe malaria can also complicate diagnosis. Case We report an imported malaria case from West Africa with two sequential episodes with neurological syndromes within about a month. The first episode was diagnosed as CM with microscopy-positive Plasmodium falciparum infection. The second episode, occurring a month after the recovery from the first CM episode, was consistent with PMNS, since malaria parasites were not detected by microscopy in peripheral blood smears. However, this diagnosis was complicated by the detection of Plasmodium vivax in peripheral blood by PCR, suggesting a potential cause of the second episode by P. vivax. Conclusion This study suggests that PMNS often occurs after severe falciparum malaria. Concurrent P. vivax infection with pathogenic biomass being predominantly extravascular further complicates accurate diagnosis. Keywords: Cerebral malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Post-malaria neurological syndrome, Sequential episodes, West Africa, Submicroscopic infection, Artesunate treatment
Background Imported cerebral malaria (CM) cases in non-endemic areas are often misdiagnosed, which delays treatment. Post-malaria neurological syndrome (PMNS) after recovery from severe malaria can also complicate diagnosis. Case We report an imported malaria case from West Africa with two sequential episodes with neurological syndromes within about a month. The first episode was diagnosed as CM with microscopy-positive Plasmodium falciparum infection. The second episode, occurring a month after the recovery from the first CM episode, was consistent with PMNS, since malaria parasites were not detected by microscopy in peripheral blood smears. However, this diagnosis was complicated by the detection of Plasmodium vivax in peripheral blood by PCR, suggesting a potential cause of the second episode by P. vivax. Conclusion This study suggests that PMNS often occurs after severe falciparum malaria. Concurrent P. vivax infection with pathogenic biomass being predominantly extravascular further complicates accurate diagnosis. Keywords: Cerebral malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Post-malaria neurological syndrome, Sequential episodes, West Africa, Submicroscopic infection, Artesunate treatment