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Case Reports
. 2020 Oct 23;2020(10):omaa098.
doi: 10.1093/omcr/omaa098. eCollection 2020 Oct.

A case of Falciparum malaria presenting with features of functional bowel obstruction

Ahmed Abdalazim Dafallah Albashir  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

A case of Falciparum malaria presenting with features of functional bowel obstruction

Ahmed Abdalazim Dafallah Albashir. Oxf Med Case Reports. .

Abstract

Malaria is the most common tropical disease in Sudan, which is caused by an infection with Plasmodium protozoa transmitted by an infective female Anopheles mosquito. Headache, fever, cough, fatigue, malaise, shaking chills, arthralgia and myalgia are the cardinal features of malaria, but occasionally, it has an atypical presentation. Intestinal obstruction as a complication is an extremely rare presentation. Here within, we describe a 28-year-old Sudanese man who has presented with of colicky abdominal pain, absolute constipation for two days and fever. Blood film for malaria was positive for Plasmodium falciparum. Intravenous artesunate injections have resulted in the resolution of symptoms of bowel obstruction. In conclusion, malaria should be suspected in any febrile patient with the features of bowel obstruction especially in an endemic area or if the patient has recently travelled to an endemic area with malaria. Treatment of malaria will result in the resolution of symptoms of functional bowel obstruction.

Keywords: Plasmodium falciparum malaria; functional intestinal obstruction; intestinal obstruction.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Blood film took on the first day showing a very high density of P. falciparum malaria.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Blood film took before discharging the patient to ensure the parasitological clearance of malaria.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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