Authors
Department of Medicine, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences University, Satara, Maharashtra, India
Abstract
The classic presentation of malaria with paroxysms of fever is seen only in 50-70% of the patients. The development of immunity, the increasing resistance to anti-malarial drugs, and the indiscriminate use of anti-malarial drugs have led to malaria with the presentation of unusual features. Cerebellar ataxia, extrapyramidal rigidity and various psychiatric symptoms have been described either as early manifestations of cerebral malaria or as a part of post malaria neurological syndrome. In this case report, we will discuss one such patient of falciparum malaria infection who developed midline cerebellar signs, and responded to anti-malarial treatment.
Keywords
1. | WHO Malaria Unit: Global malaria control. Bull World Health Organ 1993;71:281-4. |
2. | Senanayake N, De Silva HJ. Delayed cerebellar ataxia complicating falciparum malaria: A clinical study of 74 patients. J Neurol 1994;241:456-9. |
3. | De Silva HJ, Hoang P, Dalton H, De Silva NR, Jewell DP, Peiris JB. Immune activation during cerebellar dysfunction following Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 1992;86:129-31. |
4. | De Silva HJ, De Silva NR, Dunuwille A, Kandanaracchi S, Senanayake N. An epidemiological study of delayed onset cerebellar ataxia complicating falciparum malaria. J Trop Geogr Neurol 1992;2:181-4. |
5. | Garg RK, Karak B, Misra S. Neurological manifestations of malaria: An update. Neurol India 1999;47:85-91. [PUBMED] |
6. | Taksande B, Jajoo U, Jajoo M. Cerebellar Malaria: A Rare Manifestation of Plasmodium Vivax. Int J Neurol 2007;7:10-5. |
7. | Senanayake N. Delayed cerebellar ataxia: A new complication of falciparum malaria. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1987;1253-4. |
8. | Kochar DK, Kumawat BL, Kochar SK, Bajiya HN, Maurya RK. Delayed cerebellar ataxia, a complication of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. J Assoc Physicians India 1996;44:686-8. |
9. | Kochar DK, Shubhakaran, Kumawat BL, Kochar SK, Halwai M, Makkar RK, et al. Cerebral malaria in Indian adults: A prospective study of 441 patients from Bikaner, north-west India. J Assoc Physicians India 2002;50:234-41. |