Role of Non-Invasive Ventilation in Management of Plasmodium Vivax Malaria Presenting as Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Case Report

Abstract

lasmodium vivax is a common cause of malaria in endemic regions and responsible for illness and mortality in these regions [1]. Plasmodium falciparum has been known to cause severe malaria manifested by multiple organ dysfunctions including acute respiratory failure. On the contrary, P. vivax malaria usually presents as a benign acute febrile disease. Although the occurrence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is generally associated with severe falciparum malaria, rarely P. vivax malaria has also been reported to cause ARDS [2]. With the advent of non-invasive ventilation (NIV), its use as the first-line ventilatory support has been suggested, particularly in patients with mild to moderate ARDS [3,4]. Herein, we report a case of P. vivax malaria presenting as ARDS which was managed successfully with antimalarial drugs and NIV.