Severe falciparum malaria with hyperparasitaemia: Management without exchange blood transfusion

The risk of complication in falciparum malaria is associated with parasite load. Drug therapy alone may be insufficient; and blood exchange transfusion is indicated when more than 10% of erythrocytes are parasitized with concurrent pulmonary, renal, cerebral or haemostatic complications; without complications, when the parasitized erythrocytes exceed 30%. The successful use of conventional malaria therapy without exchange transfusion in a young woman with severe falciparum malaria is reported.