REVERSIBLE THROMBOCYTOPENIA: A DIAGNOSTIC DILEMMA

Vivax malaria causes a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations .It is usually associated with benign symptoms and responds promptly to anti malarial .But, sometimes it may present with some serious complications causing morbidity and mortality. The case presented here depicts a severe presentation of vivax malaria in a 35 year old female who presented with fever and chills associated with thrombocytopenia ,but responded promptly with injectable Artesunate with reversal of thrombocytopenia ,after exclusion of other causes of thrombocytopenia. The importance of the case lies in the fact ,that thrombocytopenia may be a manifestation of malaria and reversible thrombocytopenia due to malaria may cause diagnostic difculty with unnecessary investigations and treatment.