complications

Last reviewed 02/2023

Possible complications include:

  • cerebral malaria
  • hypoglycaemia, which occurs during severe malaria, especially during quinine therapy and in pregnancy
  • acute renal failure may complicate hypotension and haemoglobinuria, which may be precipitated by the use of antimalarial drugs in G6PD deficiency
  • pulmonary oedema - may be due to uraemia, ARDS, or over-zealous rehydration
  • Algid malaria, which is the complex of shock and severe hypotension that may occur in a severe malarial infection e.g. metabolic acidosis, pulmonary oedema.

There is a high incidence of maternal and fetal death in malaria.