Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) Associated with Mixed Malaria Infection in a Libyan Infant: A rare Case Report

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a distinct medical condition characterized by symptoms such as fever, hepatosplenomegaly, cytopenia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypofibrinogenemia, and the presence of hemophagocytosis in the bone marrow and other organs. HLH can be classified as either hereditary or secondary, linked to various infections, autoimmune disorders, or cancers. The occurrence of malaria-associated HLH in newborns is considered rare. This report details a case involving a newborn diagnosed with mixed-type malaria complicated by HLH. The diagnosis was delayed because of the rare occurrence of malaria infections in Libya, which the treating clinicians did not initially take into account. The patient received supportive care and antimalarial treatment, which yielded excellent results, and was subsequently discharged from the hospital.