Guillain-Barré syndrome following falciparum malaria infection: a case report
Abstract Background Malaria is an infectious disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, transmitted to humans by infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Five Plasmodium species infect humans: P. vivax, P. falciparum, P. ovale, P. malariae, and P. knowlesi. Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is an inflammatory...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | BMC Neurology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-025-04049-z |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832585672547893248 |
|---|---|
| author | Molla Asnake Kebede Alemayehu Beharu Tekle Misikir Alemu Eshetu Erkyehun Pawlos Shash Melaku Tsediew Berhanu Elias Tabiet Ahmed Hashime Meketa Negatie |
| author_facet | Molla Asnake Kebede Alemayehu Beharu Tekle Misikir Alemu Eshetu Erkyehun Pawlos Shash Melaku Tsediew Berhanu Elias Tabiet Ahmed Hashime Meketa Negatie |
| author_sort | Molla Asnake Kebede |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Malaria is an infectious disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, transmitted to humans by infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Five Plasmodium species infect humans: P. vivax, P. falciparum, P. ovale, P. malariae, and P. knowlesi. Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is an inflammatory condition that can lead to paralysis, autonomic dysfunction, respiratory failure, and sensory symptoms. GBS typically follows an infection with Campylobacter bacteria, commonly found in undercooked poultry, but is rarely associated with malaria. Clinical presentation A 16-year-old female patient presented to our emergency department with a 1-day history of altered mentation. She had experienced a severe global headache and fever for 3 days prior to presentation. The patient tested positive for falciparum malaria and was admitted to the ward, where she received IV artesunate and other supportive management. After 3 days of admission, she noticed weakness and numbness in her lower extremities. Subsequently, the weakness progressed upward to involve her upper extremities. After extensive workup, the patient was managed with consideration of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), and she made a complete recovery after 12 weeks. Discussion Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is an acute paralytic illness often triggered by infections, particularly viral ones. It is the leading cause of sudden muscle weakness, typically following respiratory or gastrointestinal infections, with Campylobacter jejuni being the most common cause. This patient’s neurological symptoms pointed to paralysis of the lower motor neurons. Guillain-Barré Syndrome is also suggested by elevated protein levels and a lack of cells in the cerebrospinal fluid. This clinical picture emerged following a Plasmodium falciparum infection. Although the specific subtype (demyelinating or axonal) was not determined in this case due to the absence of a nerve conduction study, demyelinating subtypes have been found in GBS following Plasmodium infection. Conclusion In conclusion, while malaria is an exceptionally rare cause of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), it should be considered in patients with recent malaria infection who present with symptoms of lower motor neuron lesions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d9436a596f8349d09db0048a4dbfb19f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2377 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Neurology |
| spelling | doaj-art-d9436a596f8349d09db0048a4dbfb19f2025-01-26T12:39:26ZengBMCBMC Neurology1471-23772025-01-012511510.1186/s12883-025-04049-zGuillain-Barré syndrome following falciparum malaria infection: a case reportMolla Asnake Kebede0Alemayehu Beharu Tekle1Misikir Alemu Eshetu2Erkyehun Pawlos Shash3Melaku Tsediew Berhanu4Elias Tabiet Ahmed5Hashime Meketa Negatie6Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan-Tepi UniversityDepartment of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wolaita Sodo UniversityDepartment of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan-Tepi UniversityDepartment of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan-Tepi UniversityDepartment of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan Tepi UniversityDepartment of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan-Tepi UniversityDepartment of Radiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan-Tepi UniversityAbstract Background Malaria is an infectious disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, transmitted to humans by infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Five Plasmodium species infect humans: P. vivax, P. falciparum, P. ovale, P. malariae, and P. knowlesi. Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is an inflammatory condition that can lead to paralysis, autonomic dysfunction, respiratory failure, and sensory symptoms. GBS typically follows an infection with Campylobacter bacteria, commonly found in undercooked poultry, but is rarely associated with malaria. Clinical presentation A 16-year-old female patient presented to our emergency department with a 1-day history of altered mentation. She had experienced a severe global headache and fever for 3 days prior to presentation. The patient tested positive for falciparum malaria and was admitted to the ward, where she received IV artesunate and other supportive management. After 3 days of admission, she noticed weakness and numbness in her lower extremities. Subsequently, the weakness progressed upward to involve her upper extremities. After extensive workup, the patient was managed with consideration of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), and she made a complete recovery after 12 weeks. Discussion Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is an acute paralytic illness often triggered by infections, particularly viral ones. It is the leading cause of sudden muscle weakness, typically following respiratory or gastrointestinal infections, with Campylobacter jejuni being the most common cause. This patient’s neurological symptoms pointed to paralysis of the lower motor neurons. Guillain-Barré Syndrome is also suggested by elevated protein levels and a lack of cells in the cerebrospinal fluid. This clinical picture emerged following a Plasmodium falciparum infection. Although the specific subtype (demyelinating or axonal) was not determined in this case due to the absence of a nerve conduction study, demyelinating subtypes have been found in GBS following Plasmodium infection. Conclusion In conclusion, while malaria is an exceptionally rare cause of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), it should be considered in patients with recent malaria infection who present with symptoms of lower motor neuron lesions.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-025-04049-zGuillain-barré syndromePlasmodium falciparumParesis |
| spellingShingle | Molla Asnake Kebede Alemayehu Beharu Tekle Misikir Alemu Eshetu Erkyehun Pawlos Shash Melaku Tsediew Berhanu Elias Tabiet Ahmed Hashime Meketa Negatie Guillain-Barré syndrome following falciparum malaria infection: a case report BMC Neurology Guillain-barré syndrome Plasmodium falciparum Paresis |
| title | Guillain-Barré syndrome following falciparum malaria infection: a case report |
| title_full | Guillain-Barré syndrome following falciparum malaria infection: a case report |
| title_fullStr | Guillain-Barré syndrome following falciparum malaria infection: a case report |
| title_full_unstemmed | Guillain-Barré syndrome following falciparum malaria infection: a case report |
| title_short | Guillain-Barré syndrome following falciparum malaria infection: a case report |
| title_sort | guillain barre syndrome following falciparum malaria infection a case report |
| topic | Guillain-barré syndrome Plasmodium falciparum Paresis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-025-04049-z |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mollaasnakekebede guillainbarresyndromefollowingfalciparummalariainfectionacasereport AT alemayehubeharutekle guillainbarresyndromefollowingfalciparummalariainfectionacasereport AT misikiralemueshetu guillainbarresyndromefollowingfalciparummalariainfectionacasereport AT erkyehunpawlosshash guillainbarresyndromefollowingfalciparummalariainfectionacasereport AT melakutsediewberhanu guillainbarresyndromefollowingfalciparummalariainfectionacasereport AT eliastabietahmed guillainbarresyndromefollowingfalciparummalariainfectionacasereport AT hashimemeketanegatie guillainbarresyndromefollowingfalciparummalariainfectionacasereport |