Two cases of Plasmodium vivax malaria with the clinical picture resembling toxic shock

Young Song Joon, Won Park Cheong, Mee Jo You, Yun Kim Jeong, Hyun Kim Jeong, Joong Yoon Hyo, Hoon Kim Chi, Seung Lim Chae, Jin Cheong Hee, Joo Kim Woo

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27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Fatal complications of Plasmodium falciparum malaria have been reported. However, complicated P. vivax malaria is rare. We observed two unusual cases of P. vivax malaria who presented with clinical pictures of toxic shock. Both showed disseminated intravascular coagulation with marked thrombocytopenia, oliguric renal failure, and pulmonary edema. Examination of initial blood smears showed a P. vivax parasitemia of 2,352/μL and 12,376/μL, respectively. The patients were treated with hydroxychloroquine and primaquine without an antibacterial agent. These cases emphasize the importance of considering the possibility of P. vivax malarial infection in patients with a clinical picture resembling toxic shock if they have a travel history to malaria-endemic areas.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)609-611
Number of pages3
JournalAmerican Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume77
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2007 Oct

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Virology
  • Infectious Diseases

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