Sub-acute intestinal obstruction – a rare complication of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in an adult: a case report
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Gerald Ekwen; Domin Sone Majunda Ekaney; Steve Kyota; Tim Divine Bonghaseh; Michael Budzi
- Source
- Journal of Medical Case Reports, Vol 12, Iss 1, Pp 1-3 (2018)
Journal of Medical Case Reports
- Subject
- Adult
Male
Antimalarial medication
Pediatrics
medicine.medical_specialty
medicine.drug_class
030231 tropical medicine
lcsh:Medicine
Signs and symptoms
Sub acute
Antimalarials
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
Case report
parasitic diseases
medicine
Humans
030212 general & internal medicine
Malaria, Falciparum
Plasmodium falciparum malaria
biology
business.industry
Public health
lcsh:R
Plasmodium falciparum
General Medicine
biology.organism_classification
medicine.disease
Intestinal obstruction
Gastrointestinal manifestation
Complication
business
Malaria falciparum
Malaria
- Language
- ISSN
- 1752-1947
Background Malaria remains a major public health problem in most tropical countries. It occasionally presents with both typical and atypical signs and symptoms. Gastrointestinal manifestations are common in malaria endemic areas but intestinal obstruction as a complication is extremely rare. Case presentation We present the case of a 42-year-old black African man who presented with signs and symptoms of intestinal obstruction and was diagnosed as having Plasmodium falciparum malaria. He was successfully treated with both parenteral and orally administered antimalarial medication and the intestinal obstruction subsequently resolved. Conclusion With intestinal obstruction being an important cause of morbidity and mortality, we report this case to highlight this rare complication of malaria and therefore increase physicians’ awareness and prompt diagnosis and management.