Plasmodium vivax, one of the parasitic agents causing malaria, is prevalent in many regions of the world. P. vivax is known globally to increase morbidity, but not mortality as seen in other forms of malaria. Normally, organ dysfunction (i.e. lungs, kidneys, central nervous system disorders) is not normally seen in patients with P. vivax but is routinely seen in patients with Plasmodium falciparum infection. In recent years, multiple case presentations describing mixed P. vivax and P. falciparum infections have been published hypothesizing that mixed infection may be the etiology for organ system involvement. However, where P. vivax was traditionally thought of as a focal, benign form of malaria, a number of remote, solely P. vivax case presentations have described patients who exhibit increased cerebral malaria and increased incidence of severe thrombocytopenia. By literature review, this study examines multiple case presentations and articles relating to this phenomenon in order to assess if the global health community is on the cusps of a more pathogenic state of P. vivax.
Furthermore, this paper will analyze potential causes in the change of P. vivax epidemiology and whether diagnostic methods are appropriate in diagnosing malaria given the increase incidence of mixed infection.
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