Acute Pancreatitis as a Rare Complication of Plasmodium falciparum Malaria: A Case Report

While Plasmodium falciparum malaria is well-documented for its systemic complications, its association with acute pancreatic inflammation remains exceedingly rare and clinically elusive.The manifestation of acute pancreatitis during severe malaria infection presents a distinct diagnostic challenge, as overlapping constitutional symptoms can easily obscure pancreatic involvement.Understanding this unusual presentation is critical, as microvascular sequestration of parasitized erythrocytes and subsequent localized ischemia are thought to drive the underlying pancreatic injury, necessitating early clinical vigilance to prevent adverse outcomes.This report details the clinical case of a patient diagnosed who was diagnosed with malaria.She was initially misdiagnosed with gastritis at a peripheral facility before malaria was identified and treated with intravenous artesunate.Persistent symptomatology of epigastric pain, nausea, and vomiting during the hospital stay led to a suspicion of acute pancreatitis, which was subsequently confirmed by laboratory tests and imaging.The patient improved and was successfully discharged.This case highlights the importance of considering rare complications of malaria secondary to P. falciparum and Plasmodium vivax coinfection, particularly in endemic regions.A high index of suspicion in patients presenting with persistent abdominal symptoms would help to improve patient outcomes.