Felix M., 12

Felix is a 12-year-old boy who lives with his mother in a modest two-room house in a rural area with poor road access and no safe drinking water—they rely on water from a well. Their toilet is an unfinished pit latrine, covered with banana leaves on top and rags for a door. Felix and his mother depend on the kindness of well-wishers to meet their daily needs, including his school fees. His mother, who is living with a disability, dreams of a better future for Felix. He is a hardworking and determined boy with aspirations of becoming an engineer so he can support her someday. Felix had been in good health until the day before admission when he began experiencing symptoms, including headache, dizziness, abdominal pain, muscle aches, chills, and four episodes of vomiting. He was sent for laboratory tests, which confirmed a diagnosis of severe malaria, and he was admitted for treatment.

Felix was diagnosed with severe malaria and was admitted given antimalarial drugs and rehydrating fluid that made him stable while in the ward.On his discharge he was stable and happy as his normal mood and he was promising to go back home and assist his mother on doing domestic work.

Prognosis is good. If left untreated, severe malaria could lead Felix to a high risk of death and significant long-term health complications. If left untreated it could rapidly progress to life-threatening complications such as cerebral malaria, organ failure, and severe anemia, potentially leading to coma or death.