Acute Myocarditis in the Setting of Plasmodium vivax Malaria: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) malaria is typically considered a benign form of malaria, with fewer life-threatening complications compared with Plasmodium falciparum. However, emerging evidence suggests that P. vivax can also lead to severe manifestations, including cardiac involvement. Myocarditis, although rare, is one such complication that can result in significant morbidity. This case report presents an 18-year-old man from Western India, with no previous comorbidities, who developed myocarditis secondary to P. vivax malaria. The patient initially presented with fever, chills, and headache, followed by the onset of hypotension, lactic acidosis, and cardiac complications, including a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction and elevated cardiac biomarkers. Despite requiring vasopressor support and oxygen therapy, the patient made a full recovery after receiving appropriate antimalarial treatment. This case underscores the need for heightened awareness of rare but serious complications, such as myocarditis, in patients diagnosed with P. vivax malaria.