Sandra A., 5

Sandra is the only child of her parents and currently lives with her paternal grandmother. Her father is often away fishing and rarely at home, while her mother left when Sandra was very young and has not been heard from since. She stays with her grandmother along with four cousins. When healthy, Sandra attends school and enjoys playing with her friends. One day, during a regular school day, the teacher contacted Sandra’s grandmother to inform her that Sandra was unwell and needed medical attention. The grandmother picked her up from school and took her to a nearby health facility, where she was given malaria medication and painkillers to take at home. The next day, Thursday, Sandra wanted to return to school, but her grandmother advised her to stay home and rest. The grandmother then went to the farm. Later, a neighbor called to say that Sandra was sitting outside in the sun and was shivering. Alarmed, the grandmother rushed home, gave Sandra some tablets, and put her back to bed. That afternoon, she heard Sandra crying and found her too weak to sit up. She immediately took her to Siaya County Referral Hospital for further care.

Sandra was brought to the hospital with fever, general body weakness, and a history of unresolved malaria. She was diagnosed with severe malaria and anemia; these conditions warranted her admission to the ward. In the ward she received IV artesunate, IV PCM, cetirizine, and AL. Sandra responded well to treatment and was duly discharged on orals. Her grandmother later confirmed that Sandra was okay and had even resumed her school.

Severe malaria, if left untreated, is almost always fatal. However, with prompt and effective treatment, including intravenous antimalarials and supportive care in an intensive care unit, mortality can be drastically reduced.