Analysis of pulmonary manifestations in patient infected with plasmodium vivax

Objective: To evaluate pulmonary manifestations in patients infected with Plasmodium vivax. MethOds: This was a cross- sectional, retrospective study of 50 patients diagnosed in 2006 to 2008 with vivax malaria at the Evandro Chagas Institute and referred to the University Hospital João de Barros Barreto to examine the pulmonary manifestations. Results: 72% of the patients were men, 28% were 21 to 30 years of age, 30% had parasitaemia 50 to 2000 p/mm3, 88%, 94% and 92% of the patients presented respectively with fever, chills and headache respectively, 56% of the patients had cough, 62% felt breathlessness, 28% presented dyspnea and 86% experienced chest pain. COnClusiOn: The majority of patients surveyed had parasitaemia in the range 50 to 2000 p/mm3. The classic triad fever, chills and headache was present in most patients. Among pulmonary manifestations, cough, chest pain and shortness of breath were reported by the majority of patients.(AU)