Precious D., 3

Precious is her mother’s only child. Her mother, a single parent who separated from Precious’ father, lives with her daughter and her blind grandmother in a small two-roomed house. The family relies on Precious’ mother, who does menial jobs to provide for them. Her mother describes Precious as a cheerful and sociable child who easily interacts with others. One day, her mother noticed that Precious was not eating as enthusiastically as usual. The next day, the child developed a high fever and excessive sweating. Despite giving her painkillers, her condition worsened, ending in a convulsive episode. With no immediate means to reach the hospital, it was only the following day that a neighbor, upon learning of the situation, provided money for transport to get her medical care.

Precious was brought tho the hospital after experiencing episodes of convulsions, she also presented with loss of appetite, and fever. She was diagnosed with severe malaria and febrile convulsions which warranted admission to the ward. She stayed in the ward for over three days during which she was treated with Iv Artesunate, paracetamol, AL among other drugs. She responded well to the medicine and she was discharged on orals.

The child’s short-term prognosis is guarded but improving, as survival from severe malaria with convulsions is highly dependent on early hospital intervention. In this case, prompt treatment prevented progression to cerebral malaria and permanent neurological injury. At the current rate of recovery, Precious is expected to make a full recovery without long-lasting neurological or developmental impairment