Severe malaria in the intensive care unit

• Autor(a) principal: Estrada, Helena
• Data de Publicação: 2002
• Outros Autores: Miranda, Isabel, Ferrão, Maria José
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: https://revista.spmi.pt/index.php/rpmi/article/view/1871
• topic: Malária; Plasmodium; falciparum; SDRA; Insuficiência Renal; UCI; Malaria; Plasmodium falciparum; ARDS; Renal Failure; ICU

Objective: To review the clinical profile and therapy instituted for patients with severemalaria admitted to an intensive care unit (UCI).Design: retrospective study.Population: Nine patients with Plasmodium falciparum malaria admitted between July 1991 and August 2001 to the ICU of Santo António dos Capuchos Hospital (HSAC).Results: Cerebral symptoms, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and renal failure were the most frequent complications. Mechanical ventilation, dialysis and vasoactive support were necessary in five, two and three patients respectively. Mortality rate was 22.2% (2patients).Conclusion: As Plasmodium falciparum malaria is a potentially life-threatening disease, risk factors should be identified and reliable criteria for ICU admission defined. The presence of organ failure: cerebral symptoms, renal and/or respiratory failure should be consideredindications for intensive care admission.