Malarial Retinopathy: A Diagnostic Clue
Introduction Malaria is the most important of parasitic diseases of humans and remains today, as it has been for centuries a large burden on tropical communities. Cerebral malaria is the most important complication of falciparum malaria and also the leading cause of death in malaria 1. It is defined as an acute, symmetric encephalopathy associated with sequestration of parasite-infected erythrocytes in the cerebral vessels and capillaries in patients with falciparum malaria 2. WHO Criteria for Diagnosis The World Health Organization has laid down definite guidelines for diagnosis and management of cerebral malaria 3. This definition requires the presence of unarousable coma using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), exclusion of other encephalitides, especially bacterial meningitis and if possible, locally prevalent encephalitis and the presence of asexual forms of P. falciparum in the blood film. Retinal Involvement in Cerebral Malaria Eye being an extension of the brain, retina provides a u