Treatment of cerebral malaria and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with parenteral artesunate.

Infection with Plasmodium Falciparum can cause a severe form of malaria with multiorgan involvement. Cerebrum is one of the organs involved in the P. Falciparum malaria, which can lead to coma, convulsions, and other neurological sequel. The sequestration of cerebral vasculature with parasitized red blood cells is one of the proposed mechanisms for the development of cerebral malaria. We present a case of malaria with multi organ involvement. Cerebral malaria should be suspected in any febrile patient from a malaria-endemic region with loss of consciousness. Compared with quinine, intravenous artemisinin compounds (artesunate, arteether, artemether) are well tolerated by patients and have fewer side effects. Due to multi-organ involvement in P. Falciparum malaria, supportive therapy is crucial along with parenteral antimalarial to improve survival.

The occurrence of stiff person syndrome in a patient with thymoma: case report and literature review.

Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is a rare disorder that affects the central nervous system, being characterized by intermittent episodes of muscle spasms, rigidity, and a significant increase in morbidity and mortality. We report a 29-year-old patient, with left-sided chylothorax and thymoma, who presented with truncal, lower extremities stiffness and painful cramps alleviated by diazepam and opiates. His clinical picture was suggestive of SPS secondary to invasive thymoma. This syndrome is best approached by its early recognition and prompt treatment since a missed diagnosis can have deleterious outcome. An intensive search for the underlying etiology is of utmost importance in the management of SPS. A review of the current literature is also included in this manuscript.