Case Report

Cerebral Malaria with Corpus Callosum Splenium Lesion

10.5152/cjms.2019.650

  • Amber Eker
  • H. Kaya Süer
  • Özgür Tosun

Received Date: 17.09.2018 Accepted Date: 30.01.2019 Cyprus J Med Sci 2019;4(2):146-150

Malaria is still an important public health problem especially in less developed and developing countries. Cerebral malaria is one of the most severe complications of malaria. Mortality is high, and some neurocognitive problems may be observed in surviving patients during the long-term follow-up. A 27-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department with fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, fatigue, headache, progressive drowsiness, and seizure. His cranial magnetic resonance imaging revealed focal T2 hyperintensity in the corpus callosum splenium. His blood smears showed diagnostic crescent-shaped gametocytes for Plasmodium falciparum malaria. His physical and neurological examinations were normal at discharge. Corpus callosum splenium involvement is really rare, but if observed, it is suggestive for diagnosis in patients with suspected cerebral malaria. Malaria is not only a problem in endemic areas, but it is a problem worldwide in this globalization age. We all have to be familiar to the systemic and also central nervous system complications of malaria.

Keywords: Malaria, cerebral malaria, corpus callosum splenium