Joel O., 1

Joel is the first and only child of his mother. He lives with his mother, aunt, uncle, and two cousins in a two-room mud-walled house. His mother recently finished school and is currently unemployed, so they both depend on his uncle, who works as a casual labourer, for support. She describes Joel as a jovial and happy child when he is at home with familiar people. One Monday afternoon, after putting Joel to sleep, his mother noticed that he woke up drenched in sweat and very hot. She gave him Panadol syrup, hoping the fever would improve. By the following day, there was no change, and that evening Joel developed convulsions with his eyes rolling, which caused great panic. She quickly called his uncle, who borrowed a neighbour’s motorbike and rushed the child to the hospital. Joel’s mother had previously heard about Helpster Charity through their women’s group, which gave her hope that her child could receive help.

Joel was brought to the hospital with complaints of hotness of the body, convulsions. He was diagnosed with severe malaria and promptly admitted. He was administered IV Artesunate, Al, gentamicin among other medications to which he responded well. He was later discharged on orals and a call to the mother revealed that he had fully recuperated and was able to play as before

For an 8-month-old infant like Joel, the prognosis for severe malaria with convulsions is considered serious but generally positive if intensive medical care is started immediately. At this age, the immune system is still developing, and the "blood-brain barrier" is more permeable, making the infant more vulnerable to rapid changes in blood chemistry and brain inflammation compared to older children