[50 cases of acute malaria: symptomatic study, especially cardiac]

Abstract

The authors have studied 50 records of patients who had presented an acute attack of P. falciparum malaria. Both sexes were equally implied. Young people were predominant. The distribution of cases was about the same in the whole year. The fever decreases on the second day and increases on the third day (300/0). Among the classical signs: relative rarity of hepatomegalia (100/0), splenomegalia (10 0/0), jaundice (140/0), nervous symptoms (100/0). Vomiting is rather frequent (30 0/0). From the cardiovascular point of view a relative bradycardia is observed in 16 0/0 of the cases, and a relative tachycardia in 100/0 of the cases; hypotension in 100/0 of the cases. Electrocardiographic signs are observed in 360/0 of the cases; they are aspecific, concerning mainly ST-T anomalias (22 0/0) and a QT lengthening (200/0). The cardiothoracic ratio is higher than 0.5 in 320/0 of the cases. From the pulmonary point of view the authors have observed symptoms contemporary of the attack: two asthma attacks, three radiologic anomalias reminding of viral pneumopathias. The biological symptoms are mainly transitory functional renal insufficiency in 18 0/0 of the cases. Protection due to AS heterozygosis seems to be confirmed in this study. The efficiency of intravenous quinin treatment is certain.