11 complications of malaria you should know

Shraddha Rupavate
Updated
Malaria
Malaria

April 7 is World Health Day.

Malaria is a serious disease that can kill people if it is not diagnosed and treated quickly, particularly pregnant women, babies, young children and the elderly. We spoke to our experts Dr Pradip Shah, consultant physician, and Dr Bela Sharma, senior consultant, internal medicine, FMRI about why malaria is a serious disease and what could be the resulting complications.

Dr Pradip Shah: In India, the most common species that cause malaria are Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax and most cases of complications are seen in falciparium malaria. It may also happen that a patient directly presents to a doctor with a complication due to delayed diagnosis.

Here are some common complications of malaria that he highlighted.

1. Cerebral malaria: In some cases, the malaria parasite can affect the brain and cause brain damage. This is known as cerebral malaria and can lead to paralysis and even permanent damage to the brain.

2. Acute Respiratory Distress syndrome (ARDS): Most common complication of malaria is respiratory distress or breathing problems. It is seen widely in children who suffer from severe malaria.

3. Convulsions: Convulsions can be associated with cerebral malaria. But high fever can also contribute to it.

4. Hemolysis: The malaria parasite is capable of destroying the RBCs completely. This lead to severe hemolyis in some patients. Hemoglobin released from the destroyed RBCs can even enter organs like kidneys and cause kidney failure.

Dr Bela Sharma: All cases of falciparum malaria are potentially severe and life threatening, especially when managed inappropriately. A major reason for progression of mild malaria to complicated or severe disease is missed or delayed diagnosis.

Apart from the common complications discussed above, Dr Bela also highlighted other consequences of severe malaria.

5. Low sugar levels: Very low levels of blood sugar can be caused both by malaria and by drugs being used to treat it.

6. Fluid imbalance: Patients can become salt deprived due to excessive loss with sweating and vomiting, coupled with decreased intake.

7. Blackwater fever: Some patients can suffer a massive hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells). Hemoglobin from the broken RBCs is also eliminated through urine resulting in its dark colour, (‘blackwater fever’). Blackwater fever in itself does not indicate severe kidney impairment but the presence of massive haemolysis. If it is presented with kidney failure, then the consequences are far worse.

8. Splenic rupture: Enlargement of spleen especially in people who have recurrent malaria is common. Splenic rupture is possible in any patient with falciparum malaria who develops abdominal pain and/or shock.

9. Anemia: Due to destruction of RBCs by malaria parasite, severe anemia occurs.

10. Acute renal failure: In some cases, the destroyed red blood cells can even enter the kidney and cause kidney failure. Kidney failure occurs especially in adults as a component of severe disease with multiorgan failure and a poor prognosis.

11. Secondary infection: Patients with severe malaria have compromised immunity. So they are at a risk of developing a secondary bacterial infection (septicaemia, bacterial pneumonia, urinary tract infections or meningitis). This can even lead to shock and multiorgan failure.

Also read more articles about the common vector-borne diseases in India:

Dengue

Chikunguniya

Malaria

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