A patient with malaria may demonstrate signs of abnormal
behavior or frank psychosis. The patient should be carefully evaluated for
possible causes.
|
Possible Cause
|
Feature
|
|
exacerbation of a pre-existing psychotic disorder
|
history of previous psychotic disorder
|
|
cerebral malaria
|
altered level of consiousness or other signs of cerebral involvement;
tends to last only a few days
|
|
viral encephalitis
|
possible exposure, serologic or virologic findings, skin rash
or other findings, other neurologic findings
|
|
anti-malarial medication
|
reverses after drug discontinuation
|
|
other medication
|
reverses after drug discontinuation
|
|
alcohol withdrawal or psychosis
|
history of alcohol abuse
|
|
stress-related psychiatric disorder
|
past history of psychiatric disorder; severe stress (warfare,
travel or weather related, etc)
|
Although anti-malarial drugs may be associated with psychiatric
reactions it is important to exclude other causes before assuming this is the
sole cause.