BACKGROUND: Blackwater fever is a rare but serious form of malaria in children. Diagnosis relies on clinical symptoms and on the color of the urines. OBJECTIVES: To describe blackwater fever in children, a disease whose prevalence seems to be increasing. METHOD: We report 3 cases of blackwater fever observed in our institution. RESULTS: In 2 cases, acute renal insufficiency with oligoanuria was observed. In all the 3 cases, treatment with quinine was stopped and replaced by injectable artemether. Evolution was dependent on renal function, and included in 1 patient neurological sequels consisting in aphasia. CONCLUSION: Blackwater fever is a severe affection whose diagnosis should be evoked using the color of urine. Evolution is usually favorable in the pediatric population, when adequate care can be provided.
BACKGROUND:Blackwater fever is a rare but serious form of malaria in children. Diagnosis relies on clinical symptoms and on the color of the urines. OBJECTIVES: To describe blackwater fever in children, a disease whose prevalence seems to be increasing. METHOD: We report 3 cases of blackwater fever observed in our institution. RESULTS: In 2 cases, acute renal insufficiency with oligoanuria was observed. In all the 3 cases, treatment with quinine was stopped and replaced by injectable artemether. Evolution was dependent on renal function, and included in 1 patient neurological sequels consisting in aphasia. CONCLUSION:Blackwater fever is a severe affection whose diagnosis should be evoked using the color of urine. Evolution is usually favorable in the pediatric population, when adequate care can be provided.
Authors: Joseph M Bodi; Célestin N Nsibu; Roland L Longenge; Michel N Aloni; Pierre Z Akilimali; Pierre M Tshibassu; Patrick K Kayembe; Ahmeddin H Omar; Kenji Hirayama; Jan Verhaegen Journal: Malar J Date: 2013-06-15 Impact factor: 2.979