Precious S., 10

Precious is a 10-year-old Grade Four pupil and the second-born in a family of five children. With both parents’ whereabouts unknown and her grandfather deceased, she and her siblings depend entirely on their grandmother. They live in a two-room mud house without electricity and walk over 30 minutes to obtain water. Their grandmother earns about USD 12 monthly selling firewood, which is insufficient for food, schooling and healthcare. Precious developed a four-day history of high fever with chills, severe headache, repeated vomiting, poor appetite and progressive weakness. Despite home care, she deteriorated and became drowsy, difficult to wake and unable to eat or drink. Following advice from a Helpster volunteer, her grandmother brought her to Bulondo Hospital. On admission, Precious was critically ill, with a temperature of 39.6°C, and impaired consciousness. Investigations confirmed cerebral malaria with moderate dehydration. She was urgently admitted, intravenous access established, and IV fluids, appropriate antimalarial therapy and supportive care commenced. She remains under close monitoring, stable but seriously ill.

Precious presented with cerebral malaria and moderate dehydration, with high fever, vomiting, marked weakness and impaired consciousness (GCS 11/15). This is a medical emergency requiring intravenous antimalarial therapy, careful fluid management and close neurological monitoring. Cerebral malaria may cause seizures, coma, neurological disability or death if treatment is delayed. Her current stability is encouraging, but the condition remains serious. With prompt treatment and improving consciousness, her prognosis is cautiously favourable, with follow-up needed for possible neurological effects.