Abdominal heaviness in malaria: An unusual splenic complication: Abdominal heaviness in malaria – An unusual splenic complication

Ankit Mittal; Animesh Ray; Raunak Bir; Surabhi Vyas; Nishant Verma

Authors

Ankit Mittal Department of Medicine, AIIMS, New Delhi, India
Animesh Ray Department of Medicine, AIIMS, New Delhi, India
Raunak Bir Department of Microbiology, AIIMS, New Delhi, India
Surabhi Vyas Department of Radiodiagnosis, AIIMS, New Delhi, India
Nishant Verma Department of Microbiology, AIIMS, New Delhi, India

Keywords:

Complications, malaria, splenic abscess, splenic infarction

Abstract

Splenic infarction as a complication in malaria is very sparsely reported despite having millions of cases of malaria every year. It appears to be an underreported complication and its recognition now can be attributed to the availability of better diagnostic and imaging modalities. It is important to look for splenic involvement in patients with malaria, especially in patients who complain of left hypochondrial pain as it might be associated with complications. Among the different species of malaria, like the case being reported here, it has been most commonly described with vivax malaria and outcomes have been almost always favorable with appropriate management of the infection.

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Abdominal heaviness in malaria: An unusual splenic complication