Cerebral Malaria Associated with Retinal Hemorrhage on Macular Area

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Cerebral malaria is caused by Plasmodium falciparum. The reports about cerebral malaria are very rare because Korea is not endemic area of P. falciparum. Additionally, macular hemorrhage and decreased vision associated with cerebral malaria was not reported ever in Korea, we report one case of cerebral malaria associated with retinal hemorrhage on macular area and review of literature. METHODS: Ophthalmology was consulted with about 19-year-old woman in cerebral malaria, tropical endemic disease caused by Plasmodium falciparum, with decresed visual acuity. RESULTS: 1250 mg/day of Mefloquine was injected into patient for cerebral malaria for 18 days. After awareness, the patient complained of decreased visual acuity in left eye, then the best corrected visual acuity(BCVA) in left eye was 20/800, BCVA in right eye was 20/20, retinal hemorrhage and Roth's spot were found on fundus examination in left eye, and finding in fluorescein angiography was not specific. After 8 months, retinal hemorrhage in left eye was absorbed, but BCVA in left eye was not changed.