Background: In tropical countries like India, malaria has been one of the most common parasitic illnesses leading to frequent hospitalization and causing major economic burden among the masses.
Case presentation: We present two cases of splenic infarction resulting from Plasmodium vivax infection. In case 1, a peripheral blood smear revealed Plasmodium vivax malarial trophozoites and gametocytes whereas USG and CECT abdomen revealed multiple wedge-shaped hypoechoic areas in mid-pole of spleen, suggestive of splenic infarction. In case 2, a peripheral blood smear revealed schizonts of Plasmodium vivax and CECT abdomen revealed mild to moderate splenomegaly with posterio-inferior wedge-shaped splenic infarct. Patients were treated with antimalarials, adequate intravenous hydration along with supportive therapy. Both the patients remained afebrile, achieved complete recovery and were discharged under stable condition.
Conclusion: While Plasmodium vivax infection is considered less harmful compared to Plasmodium falciparum it is well-known for causing serious splenic complications and can happen frequently. Splenomegaly often doesn't get significant focus, since typically it doesn't come with complications and can be slowly managed through conventional anti-malarial treatment. Splenic infarction, while infrequently linked to malaria in areas with high parasitemia, can occasionally be an unusual manifestation of this illness.
International Journal of Advanced Research in Medicine
