Splenic Rupture in Plasmodium vivax Malaria: A Case Report from Kuwait
Mariam Al-Fadhli
Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Hospital, Shuwaikh, Kuwait.
Abdul-Aziz Al-Fadhli
Department of Surgery, Amiri Hospital, Kuwait.
Mohammad Saraya
Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Hospital, Shuwaikh, Kuwait.
Jafar A. Qasem *
Department of Applied Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET), Kuwait.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
We describe a case of malaria vivax in a 31 year old Afghan male complicated by spontaneous splenic rupture one month after returning from Pakistan. The ruptured and enlarged spleen displaying multiple subcapsular hemorrhages was surgically resected. Malaria was diagnosed by peripheral blood smear. The patient underwent antimalarial therapy with chloroquine and primaquine. While numerous diseases can result in splenic complications, such as splenic rupture malarial infection is known as the most common cause. Consequently, It is recommended that malaria be always considered in all cases of suspected splenic rupture in the differential diagnosis of all acute fevers, especially among those with a history of travel to an endemic area.
Keywords: Malaria, Plasmodium vivax, Kuwait, ruptured spleen.