Acute glomerulonephritis: an unusual manifestation of<i>Plasmodium vivax</i>malaria

Abstract

Long considered a benign infection, Plasmodium vivax is now increasingly recognised as a cause of severe and fatal malaria. Various atypical presentations of vivax malaria have been reported. This report highlights the occurrence of acute glomerulonephritis in a 7-year-old girl who presented with fever and vomiting. Peripheral smear examination demonstrated ring forms of P. vivax. OptiMAL test was positive for P. vivax and negative for Plasmodium falciparum. She was managed with antimalarial and antihypertensive drugs and made an uneventful recovery.