Fungal and Parasitic Infections USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 5-year-old girl from a malaria-endemic region presents with fever (38.9°C), hepatosplenomegaly, and pallor. She received inconsistent antimalarial prophylaxis. Vital signs show HR 118/min, RR 28/min, BP 95/58 mmHg, SpO2 98% on room air. Laboratory studies reveal hemoglobin 6.2 g/dL with ring forms on thick blood smear. Peripheral blood smear shows <1% parasitemia. She denies recent travel outside her region. Which of the following complications is this patient at highest risk for developing?
Answer choices
- ASleeping sickness
- BCerebral malaria and acute kidney injuryCorrect answer
- CChronic liver cirrhosis
- DCutaneous leishmaniasis
- ELymphatic filariasis
- FPulmonary edema and disseminated intravascular coagulation
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