# Thrombocytopenia and Epistaxis Complicating Plasmodium falciparum Malaria: Case Report Study

## TL;DR

This case report describes two patients with Plasmodium falciparum malaria who developed low platelet counts and nosebleeds, highlighting the rare but important bleeding complications of the disease.

## Contribution

The study adds to the understanding of hemorrhagic complications in malaria by documenting epistaxis in patients with thrombocytopenia.

## Key findings

- Two Sudanese patients with P. falciparum malaria developed thrombocytopenia and epistaxis.
- Thrombocytopenia improved after successful malaria treatment.
- Bleeding complications like epistaxis should be considered in malaria cases with low platelet counts.

## Abstract

Malaria is one of the vector-borne diseases with major public health problems to date, especially in endemic areas. Malaria is usually associated with various degrees of reduced red blood counts, and thrombocytopenia is a common association of malaria, but it is rarely associated with hemorrhagic manifestations. This case report presents two Sudanese patients, who presented to a private clinic in North Bahri. The patients were infected with Plasmodium falciparum; they developed thrombocytopenia and were presented clinically with epistaxis. A 36-year-old male and a 41-year-old male presented with the clinical features of malaria and epistaxis and were diagnosed with P. falciparum malaria. Both patients had significant thrombocytopenia in complete blood count (CBC). They showed clinical and laboratory improvement of thrombocytopenia after successful treatment of malaria. Although bleeding is a rare complication of malaria associated with thrombocytopenia, it should be considered even if it presents as a minor bleeding such as epistaxis or bleeding from gum.