Splenic rupture is most common in infection with -: (A) Plasmodium vivax, (B) Plasmodium ovale, (C) Plasmodium malariae, (D) Plasmodium falciparum
Answer is A. 1. Splenomegaly is one of the most common features of malaria. However, spontaneous splenic rupture, although unusual, represents a severe complication often leading to death. It is mostly seen in acute infection and primary attack, and it is most commonly associated withPlasmodium vivax. 2. In benign malaria, after a few weeks of febrile paroxysm, spleen gets enlarged and become palpable. Splenomegaly is due to massive proliferation of macrophages that engulf parasitized and non-parasitized coated RBCs.