A 30-year-old woman with severe P. falciparum malaria is on IV artesunate. She develops recurrent hypoglycaemia (blood glucose 1.9 mmol/L) requiring r...

Question

A 30-year-old woman with severe P. falciparum malaria is on IV artesunate. She develops recurrent hypoglycaemia (blood glucose 1.9 mmol/L) requiring repeated dextrose boluses. What is the underlying mechanism of hypoglycaemia in severe malaria?

Accepted Answer

Increased glucose consumption by parasites, impaired hepatic gluconeogenesis due to hepatic dysfunction, and in some cases quinine-induced hyperinsulinaemia if co-administered

Answer

Artesunate-induced insulin secretion

Answer

Addisonian crisis from adrenal haemorrhage

Answer

Insulinoma

Answer

Starvation ketoacidosis

uk-dtmh MCQ (SBA): Hypoglycaemia Mechanism in Malaria

A 30-year-old woman with severe P. falciparum malaria is on IV artesunate. She develops recurrent hypoglycaemia (blood glucose 1.9 mmol/L) requiring repeated dextrose boluses. What is the underlying mechanism of hypoglycaemia in severe malaria?