Splenic Infarction Secondary to COVID-19 and Malaria Co-Infection: A Case Report

Abstract

Splenic infarction is a rare complication of both malaria and COVID-19. We report a splenic infarction case due to COVID-19 and malaria co-infection. A 35‑year‑old male with no known chronical disease tested positive for both COVID-19 and malaria in Turkey in 2022. Oral artemether and lumefantrine treatment was started. On the third day of the treatment, he complained about a severe left upper quadrant pain. A repeated abdominal CT showed splenomegaly and 8 cm diameter hypodense areas throughout the spleen consistent with splenic infarction. The patient was discharged with low molecular weight heparin. A rare complication that can be seen in both diseases developed a more rigorous recommendation for anticoagulant therapy is needed for co-infections of COVID-19 with diseases that may present similar thrombotic complications.