Changes in laboratory features of 192 children with imported falciparum malaria treated with quinine.

Little is known about changes in laboratory values of children with imported falciparum malaria. Of 192 children, 69% had parasitemia of 2% or less and 64% had platelets <150 x 10/L. In 20%, parasite counts rose within 12-24 hours of starting treatment before falling, whereas the platelet counts dropped in 45% but returned to normal levels within 5 days.

Childhood malaria in East London.

Objectives: To describe the epidemiologic, clinical and laboratory features of children younger than 16 years with malaria in East London.

Methods: Retrospective case review of all children admitted to two East London hospitals with malaria identified between 1996 and 2001 with the use of notifications and hospital discharge data.

Results: A total of 211 children with a median age of 9 years (range, 11 to 179 months) were identified.

Massive hepatosplenomegaly in a child with malaria.

Hypermalarial splenomegaly syndrome (HMS) usually occurs in adults living in malaria-endemic areas. A 7-year-old girl presented with a 7-week history of gradual distention of the abdomen and low grade fever, 8 months after traveling to Ghana, and was subsequently diagnosed with HMS. Presentation at such a young age after very brief exposure to a malaria-endemic area has not been described previously.