Malaria and dengue coinfection

Abstract

Concurrent infection of malaria and dengue may be difficult to diagnose because of overlapping signs and symptoms. An 11-year-old boy presenting in the causality with blanching rash, respiratory distress, and hypotension was initially managed as dengue shock syndrome. Due to high-grade fever and hepatosplenomegaly, peripheral blood film for malarial parasite was sent, which came out to be positive for vivax malaria. This case report emphasizes the need to consider about the possibility of dengue–malaria coinfection in the endemic areas and highlights the challenges related to management among these patients.