Grace A., 4

4-year old Grace is the second of three siblings. She lives with her 23-year-old widowed mother and siblings in a small, iron-sheet single-room house. Her mother supports the family by doing casual labor. She describes Grace as a cheerful and playful child who also enjoys taking naps. One Sunday morning, just before leaving for church, the mother noticed that Grace felt warm and slightly sweaty. After returning home in the afternoon, she gave her paracetamol, hoping it would relieve the fever. However, later that night, Grace’s temperature spiked significantly, and she suddenly became stiff and unresponsive. Alarmed, her mother rushed her to a nearby health facility, where she was stabilized and referred to Siaya County Referral Hospital. There, she was placed on oxygen. Although Grace’s condition improved, she remained weak and had to be fed using a nasogastric feeding tube before being admitted for further treatment.

The child was received at the emergency department a referral from from Ashburn hospital, she was put on oxygen to support her breathing as the doctors worked to stabilise her, she was severely sick and weak was admitted for further management.In the ward she was treated with antimalarials, during which she was being fed through a feeding tube as she was still weak .After a few days she started responding to treatment and could sit upright and eat food. She made a recovery that she was later discharged on orals to continue taking at home. A visit by the volunteer revealed she was okay and had gone back to school

Severe malaria has a potentially fatal prognosis, particularly if left untreated. However, with prompt and appropriate treatment, the prognosis can improve significantly. Even with treatment, complications and some neurological sequelae can occur. The patient received prompt treatment upon arrival at the hospital and is set to make a full recovery