Acute Kidney injury due to severe Malaria, requiring an  Intensive care management: A case report

Authors

  • Elisabet Sipayung Department of Internal Medicine, Sulianti Saroso Infectious Disease Hospital
  • Anita Puspita Dyah Nugroho Department of Surveillance, Sulianti Saroso Infectious Disease Hospital , Indonesia Epidemiological Association
  • Herlina Department of Surveillance, Sulianti Saroso Infectious Disease Hospital , Universitas Muhammadiyah Prof Dr Hamka image/svg+xml
  • Ika Susanti Department of Surveillance, Sulianti Saroso Infectious Disease Hospital
  • Vivi Setiawaty
  • Siti Pratiekauri Department of Clinical Parasitology, Sulianti Saroso Infectious Disease Hospital
  • Aninda Dinar Widiantari Department of Research, Sulianti Saroso Infectious Disease Hospital
  • Farida Murtiani Sulianti Saroso Infectious Diseases Hospital
  • Annisa Ayu Lestari Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30442/

Keywords:

Acute Kidney Injury, Haemodialysis, Multiorgan dysfunction, Severe malaria, Malaria nephropathy

Abstract

Severe malaria can cause multiorgan dysfunction, including acute kidney injury (AKI), which is associated with high mortality when renal replacement therapy is unavailable. We report the management and recovery of a patient with severe malaria complicated by AKI. A 44-year-old man was referred after ten days of treatment at a private hospital. He presented with intermittent fever, weakness, and nausea, and had recently travelled to Papua, Indonesia, a malaria-endemic region. Microscopic examination confirmed a mixed infection with Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. Laboratory tests showed hyperparasitaemia, severe anaemia (Hb 5.1 g/dL), thrombocytopenia, electrolyte abnormalities, and AKI. The patient was managed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), received intravenous artesunate, and underwent three sessions of haemodialysis. He was discharged on day 11 with resolution of parasitaemia and marked improvement in organ function. Early haemodialysis contributed substantially to recovery from malaria-associated nephropathy.

References

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Annals of Health Research Volume 12, Issue number 2 April-June 2026

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Published

2026-07-01

Issue

Section

Case Report