SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Malaria Associated Splenic Infarct

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Northwell Health is New York State’s largest health care provider and private employer, committed to improving community health through high-quality clinical care, medical education, research, health promotion, and care regardless of ability to pay. Its network includes 23 hospitals, more than 700 outpatient facilities, and over 13,600 affiliated physicians.

The document then presents a case report titled <strong>“Malaria Associated Splenic Infarct.”</strong> A 49-year-old man with hereditary thrombocytosis came to the emergency department with 4 days of fever, headache, nausea, and abdominal pain after returning from Yemen without malaria prophylaxis. He had LUQ and epigastric tenderness, fever, elevated inflammatory markers, and abnormal liver enzymes. CT imaging showed splenomegaly with wedge-shaped hypodensities consistent with splenic infarcts.

Extensive infectious testing was negative except for a blood smear, which identified <strong>Plasmodium falciparum</strong> with 1.2% parasitemia. He was treated with a 3-day course of <strong>atovaquone/proguanil</strong>, and follow-up smears were negative.

The discussion emphasizes that splenic infarction is uncommon in malaria but should be considered in patients with abdominal pain and travel to endemic regions. While splenomegaly is a known complication of malaria, splenic infarction is rare and likely underreported. Conservative management with pain control and antimalarial therapy generally leads to favorable outcomes.

Asset Subtitle

Alexander Shaffer

Meta Tag

Author List Alexander Shaffer, Rahima Nayeem, Suhwoo Bae

Category Clinical Vignettes

Concept Malaria

Concept Splenic Infarction

Concept Plasmodium falciparum

Concept Peripheral Blood Smear

Concept Splenomegaly

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Northwell/ NSLIJ

Presenting Author Alexander Shaffer

Track Adult

Keywords

Northwell Health

malaria

splenic infarct

Plasmodium falciparum

atovaquone proguanil

hereditary thrombocytosis

splenomegaly

abdominal pain

travel medicine

parasitemia

Malaria

Splenic Infarction

Plasmodium falciparum

Peripheral Blood Smear

Splenomegaly