Reversible myelopathy in Plasmodium vivax malaria: report of a case and review of literature

Neurological examination revealed: increased muscle tone with difficulties in passive movement and 2/5 grade muscle power in both lower limbs; loss of pain, tempera- ture and pressure (mild degree) sensations below the umbilicus suggestive of lateral and ventral spinothalamic tract involvement. In 2009, Sharma and Khanduri4 from Delhi, India demonstrated that thrombocytopenia, hepatic dysfunction, renal damage, positive direct Coomb's test and acute res- piratory distress syndrome (ARDS) were associated with vivax malaria, but none of the 221 vivax malaria patients developed any neurological complications4.