# name
Are respiratory complications of Plasmodium vivax malaria an
                underestimated problem?

# metadata.dc.description.abstract[].value
BACKGROUND: Respiratory complications are uncommon, but often
                life-threatening features of Plasmodium vivax malaria. This
                study aimed to estimate the prevalence and lethality associated
                with such complications among P. vivax malaria patients in a
                tertiary hospital in the Western Brazilian Amazon, and to
                identify variables associated with severe respiratory
                complications, intensive care need and death. Medical records
                from 2009 to 2016 were reviewed aiming to identify all patients
                diagnosed with P. vivax malaria and respiratory complications.
                Prevalence, lethality and risk factors associated with WHO
                defined respiratory complications, intensive care need and death
                were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 587 vivax malaria patients
                were hospitalized during the study period. Thirty (5.1%)
                developed respiratory complications. Thirteen (43.3%) developed
                severe respiratory complications, intensive care was required
                for 12 (40%) patients and 5 (16.6%) died. On admission, anaemia
                and thrombocytopaenia were common findings, whereas fever was
                unusual. Patients presented different classes of parasitaemia
                and six were aparasitaemic on admission. Time to respiratory
                complications occurred after anti-malarials administration in 18
                (60%) patients and progressed very rapidly. Seventeen patients
                (56.7%) had comorbidities and/or concomitant conditions, which
                were significantly associated to higher odds of developing
                severe respiratory complications, need for intensive care and
                death (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Respiratory complications were
                shown to be associated with significant mortality in this
                population. Patients with comorbidities and/or concomitant
                conditions require special attention to avoid this potential
                life-threatening complication.

# metadata.dc.relation.isformatof[].value
Reproducció del document publicat a:
                http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12936-017-2143-y

# metadata.dc.source[].value
Articles publicats en revistes (ISGlobal)

# metadata.dc.title[].value
Are respiratory complications of Plasmodium vivax malaria an
                underestimated problem?