A 42-year-old Cameroonian (black African) man with no relevant past medical history presented to our hospital with a 1-week history of fever and a 4-day history of no bowel movements. The fever was intermittent and worse in the evenings, and associated with headache, joint pains, and anorexia. He self-medicated an undocumented orally administered antimalarial medication but symptoms persisted. Three days later, he developed generalized abdominal pain, colicky in character, with a severity of 5/10 on a visual analogue scale. This was associated with progressive abdominal distension and an altered bowel pattern initially characterized by an inability to pass stool and flatus over 4 days but he denied any vomiting. A worsening of his symptoms prompted his visit to our hospital.\nOn examination, his mucous membranes were dry, his conjunctivae were pink, and his vital signs were normal. His abdomen was mildly distended with mild diffuse tenderness. There was neither guarding nor rebound tenderness. Percussion note was tympanic and bowel sounds were hyperactive. His rectum was empty per digital rectal examination and his prostate was not enlarged. The rest of the physical examination was unremarkable.\nA rapid diagnostic (Alere™ Malaria Ag P.f, Abbott Rapid Diagnostics, USA) test for malaria was positive. Also, his complete blood count values were within normal ranges: white blood cell count of 6200 cells/uL, hemoglobin of 12.5 g/dL, and platelet count of 222,000 cells/uL. His metabolic panel was within normal range: serum sodium ion (Na+) of 140 mmol/L, serum potassium ion (K+) of 4.0 mmol/L, serum chloride ion (Cl−) of 98 mmol/L, serum creatinine of 0.9 mg/dL, alanine aminotransferase was 41.2 U/L, aspartate aminotransferase was 33.0 U/L, total bilirubin was 0.81 mg/dL, and alkaline phosphatase was 55.9 U/L. His human immunodeficiency virus serology was non-reactive. His rapid antibody test for typhoid fever was also non-reactive. There was no significant air fluid level or increased bowel gas on a plain abdominal radiograph and an abdominal ultrasound revealed mild free intra-abdominal fluid in all four quadrants.\nWe concluded on a working diagnosis of functional bowel obstruction secondary to malaria. He received three doses of intravenously administered quinine base infusion (600 mg in 500 ml of dextrose 5% to flow for 4 hours every 8 hours for 24 hours) and intravenously administered crystalloids (0.9% normal saline at rate of 1 liter 8 hourly for 48 hours) and was placed on “nothing by mouth.” He passed a small quantity of feces 48 hours after initiation of antimalarial medication, with complete resolution of the abdominal pain, distension, and bowel movements on the fourth day of hospital stay. A stool examination was done with no organisms identified. We then concluded on a final diagnosis of sub-acute intestinal obstruction secondary to malaria. He was then discharged on an orally administered artemisinin-based antimalarial combination (artemether/lumefantrine 20/120 mg, 4 tablets 12 hourly for 3 days). His 2-week follow up was unremarkable.
A 50-year-old uneducated male of low socioeconomic status was scheduled for amputation of toes. To start with, he had complaint of fever associated with chills and rigors for 3 weeks. He consulted a local practitioner who prescribed some tablets about which patient could not give the details. He noticed blackening of toes of both the feet, which was slow and progressive over 1 week. As he was not responding to the treatment, he was rushed to our medical college. There was no history of trauma, significant drug ingestion particularly ergot, alcohol consumption or smoking. On physical examination, he was febrile, dehydrated, and had pallor; there was no icterus, cyanosis, edema, or significant lymphadenopathy. A pulse rate of 120/min, respiratory rate of 24/min, and blood pressure of 90/70 mmHg was recorded. All peripheral pulses were palpable. On systemic examination, mild hepatosplenomegaly was present and rest of the systemic examination was normal. On local examination, there was blackish discoloration of all toes, extending up to malleoli [Figures and ]. Intavenous line was secured. Ringer lactate was started and investigations were sent for. Reports were as follows [].\nPeripheral blood smear showed ring forms of P. falciparum with occasional gametocytes. Three consecutive blood cultures for bacteria were negative. Color Doppler study of the lower limbs revealed normal flow in both the femorals and the popliteal, with slightly reduced flow in tibial and dorsalis pedis artery with hypoechogenic shadow in its lumen.\nThe patient was given i.v. quinine, loading dose of 20 mg/kg followed by a maintenance dose of 10 mg/kg thrice a day for 2 days. Then, the patient was shifted to oral quinine (dose 10 mg/kg) thrice a day and oral paracetamol 500 mg thrice a day for 5 days. Two units of packed cell transfusion were also given. Fever subsided within 5 days of treatment. His peripheral smear for malarial parasite became negative after 7 days of quinine course. Line of demarcation did not progress any further. For management of gangrene, amputation was planned. All repeated blood investigations were within normal limits except prothrombin time 16.5 s, fibrinogen level 2.9 g/L (normal value 1.5-4 g/L), and D-dimer 1.7. The surgery was done under total i.v. anesthesia.