From multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children to secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis a series of misfortunate events: case report and review of literature

Abstract

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome of childhood (MIS-C) is a recently described entity in pediatrics post-COVID-19 pandemic. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a clinical syndrome caused by an unregulated proliferation of macrophages as well as T lymphocytes. Both entities can be considered overlapping, although distinct criteria for each can be found in the literature. Herein, we report a patient with MIS-C post-COVID-19 infection, complicated with HLH secondary to Plasmodium falciparum malaria from a blood transfusion.

Keywords: COVID-19; HLH; MIS-C; Malaria; Plasmodium falciparum.