Khadijah A., 13

Khadijah is 13 years old girl child, she is the 5th child of her parents among 8 siblings, she stays with her parents and attends a government primary school. She wishes to further her education to the highest level as she will decide what to become subsequently. Khadijah a 13year old presented with a 3-day history of persistent high-grade fever, chills, severe headache, generalized body weakness, vomiting, and poor oral intake. Symptoms progressed to dizziness, confusion, and inability to stand without support as well as sleeping instantly. No history of seizures prior to presentation. The family are desperately in need of help and they contacted a Helpster volunteer. On presentation at our hospital ,and after further evaluation, she was diagnosed with severe malaria.

Khadijah a 13-year old female presented with a 3-day history of persistent high-grade fever, chills, severe headache, generalized body weakness, vomiting, and poor oral intake. Symptoms progressed to dizziness, confusion, and inability to stand without support as well as sleeping instantly. No history of seizures prior to presentation. She was diagnosed with severe malaria, she was immediately admitted where treatment commenced with injection antimalarials, injection antibiotics and other supportive care, patient did well, she was stable and fever stopped after proper care, temperature dropped to normal rate and feeding continued well, no more complaints of severe headache respectively. She was discharged with some take home orals for continued treatment, to return for follow up after 1 week. The family are joyful and extends gratitude to Helpster Charity and team.

With prompt diagnosis and intensive hospital care using intravenous antimalarial drugs such as artesunate, most patients can recover fully within days to weeks. However, in delayed or complicated cases, especially those involving cerebral malaria, severe anemia, or organ failure, the risk of death increases significantly. Children, pregnant women, and immunocompromised patients face a poorer prognosis if treatment is late. Early medical intervention and close monitoring greatly improve survival and reduce long-term complications.