Abstract
A case of P. falciparum malaria with acute renal failure is reported. The urinary sodium of 42 mEg/L pointed towards a tubular pathology. There was no significant intravascular hemolysis as serum bilirubin was normal and plasma hemoglobin only mildly elevated. The pathogenesis of acute tubular necrosis due to heavy parasitemia is discussed. The other interesting feature which the patient exhibited was alternate day fever in the hospital and the peripheral smear showing only gametocytes repeatedly. Gametocytes do not give rise to symptoms. The patient responded well to quinine hydrochloride and the gametocytes disappeared. There is no satisfactory explanation for this phenomenon.
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Agrawal, S.M., Kumar, L. & Naidu, M. Acute renal failure in falciparum malaria—a case report. Indian J Pediatr 51, 109–113 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02753537
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02753537