2026/03/13 by H. A. Nati-Castillo, Jhan Sebastián Saavedra-Torres, José Mauricio Cardenas +3 · 1 voice
Medicine · Immunology and Microbiology · #Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments #Bacterial Infections and Vaccines #Mosquito-borne diseases and control
paper · doi:10.1186/s12936-026-05838-8
openalex publication_date 2026/03/13 · openalex created_date 2026/03/14 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
BACKGROUND: Malaria and dengue are tropical endemic infections that can cause severe vascular and neurologic complications. Coinfection with Plasmodium vivax and dengue virus is uncommon but increasingly reported in co-endemic areas, complicating diagnosis and suggesting possible pathogenic synergy. Although each pathogen has been linked to stroke, cerebrovascular events during coinfection are exceptionally rare. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a 23-year-old Colombian woman, who recently returned from Chocó, and developed acute right-leg monoparesis after 7 days of fever. Exam: hypotension and jaundice. Labs confirmed P. vivax malaria (8200 parasites/μL) and acute dengue (NS1 antigen positive; IgM-positive/IgG-negative). MRI revealed an acute left ACA infarct. There are no traditional stroke risk factors. She received artesunate-primaquine, supportive dengue care, and aspirin after her thrombocytopenia resolved; her neurologic function improved with rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: This case highlights the potential of P. vivax-dengue coinfection to cause ischemic stroke through synergistic endothelial injury. Early recognition, targeted treatment, and coinfection screening are essential in endemic areas, especially during vector expansion.