Clinical characteristics and outcome of severe malaria in Kapit, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo
Background & objectives: Severe malaria is a medical emergency and can lead to severe complications and death if not treated promptly and appropriately. Along with Plasmodium falciparum, P. knowlesi is increasingly recognised as a significant cause of fatal and severe malaria. Methods: We perfor...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Vector Borne Diseases |
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| Online Access: | http://www.jvbd.org/article.asp?issn=0972-9062;year=2023;volume=60;issue=4;spage=432;epage=434;aulast=Chang |
| _version_ | 1797231732534018048 |
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| author | Chee Yik Chang |
| author_facet | Chee Yik Chang |
| author_sort | Chee Yik Chang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background & objectives: Severe malaria is a medical emergency and can lead to severe complications and death if not treated promptly and appropriately. Along with Plasmodium falciparum, P. knowlesi is increasingly recognised as a significant cause of fatal and severe malaria.
Methods: We performed a retrospective review on 54 cases of severe malaria in a district hospital in Kapit, Sarawak, from January 2018 to May 2019. The patients’ demographics, clinical features, complications based on organ involvement, and treatment outcomes were examined.
Results: There were 54 cases of severe malaria, with the majority being male (70%) and between the ages of 40 and 49 (26%). All patients with severe malaria were febrile or had a history of pyrexia except for one patient. P. knowlesi (81.5%) was the most common species causing severe malaria in our study, followed by P. falciparum (13%), and P. vivax (5.5%). There were no cases of severe malaria caused by P. ovale or P. malariae. Hyperparasitaemia was present in 76% of patients and the median parasitemia value at hospital admission was 33,944 parasites/μL (interquartile range: 19,920-113,285 parasites/μL). Circulatory shock was observed in 17 patients (31.5%). There were eight patients with acute renal failure and six patients with respiratory distress. One patient died as a result of severe malaria with multiorgan involvement (1.9% fatality rate).
Interpretation & conclusion: P. knowlesi is the most common cause of severe malaria in Kapit, Sarawak, Malaysia. Recognizing symptoms of severe malaria and prompt administration of antimalarial are critical for good clinical outcomes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T15:49:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-42a2b8f1ebdd45d88017bb465f9a35ec |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0972-9062 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T15:49:03Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Vector Borne Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-42a2b8f1ebdd45d88017bb465f9a35ec2024-04-01T12:56:03ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Vector Borne Diseases0972-90622023-01-0160443243410.4103/0972-9062.374238Clinical characteristics and outcome of severe malaria in Kapit, Sarawak, Malaysian BorneoChee Yik ChangBackground & objectives: Severe malaria is a medical emergency and can lead to severe complications and death if not treated promptly and appropriately. Along with Plasmodium falciparum, P. knowlesi is increasingly recognised as a significant cause of fatal and severe malaria. Methods: We performed a retrospective review on 54 cases of severe malaria in a district hospital in Kapit, Sarawak, from January 2018 to May 2019. The patients’ demographics, clinical features, complications based on organ involvement, and treatment outcomes were examined. Results: There were 54 cases of severe malaria, with the majority being male (70%) and between the ages of 40 and 49 (26%). All patients with severe malaria were febrile or had a history of pyrexia except for one patient. P. knowlesi (81.5%) was the most common species causing severe malaria in our study, followed by P. falciparum (13%), and P. vivax (5.5%). There were no cases of severe malaria caused by P. ovale or P. malariae. Hyperparasitaemia was present in 76% of patients and the median parasitemia value at hospital admission was 33,944 parasites/μL (interquartile range: 19,920-113,285 parasites/μL). Circulatory shock was observed in 17 patients (31.5%). There were eight patients with acute renal failure and six patients with respiratory distress. One patient died as a result of severe malaria with multiorgan involvement (1.9% fatality rate). Interpretation & conclusion: P. knowlesi is the most common cause of severe malaria in Kapit, Sarawak, Malaysia. Recognizing symptoms of severe malaria and prompt administration of antimalarial are critical for good clinical outcomes.http://www.jvbd.org/article.asp?issn=0972-9062;year=2023;volume=60;issue=4;spage=432;epage=434;aulast=Changsevere malaria; plasmodium knowlesi; hyperparasitaemia; spontaneous splenic rupture |
| spellingShingle | Chee Yik Chang Clinical characteristics and outcome of severe malaria in Kapit, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo Journal of Vector Borne Diseases severe malaria; plasmodium knowlesi; hyperparasitaemia; spontaneous splenic rupture |
| title | Clinical characteristics and outcome of severe malaria in Kapit, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo |
| title_full | Clinical characteristics and outcome of severe malaria in Kapit, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo |
| title_fullStr | Clinical characteristics and outcome of severe malaria in Kapit, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo |
| title_full_unstemmed | Clinical characteristics and outcome of severe malaria in Kapit, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo |
| title_short | Clinical characteristics and outcome of severe malaria in Kapit, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo |
| title_sort | clinical characteristics and outcome of severe malaria in kapit sarawak malaysian borneo |
| topic | severe malaria; plasmodium knowlesi; hyperparasitaemia; spontaneous splenic rupture |
| url | http://www.jvbd.org/article.asp?issn=0972-9062;year=2023;volume=60;issue=4;spage=432;epage=434;aulast=Chang |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT cheeyikchang clinicalcharacteristicsandoutcomeofseveremalariainkapitsarawakmalaysianborneo |