Priapism may develop in a patient with acute malaria.
Mechanism: sludging of blood in the cavernous spaces and venules
The case reports of priapism have largely come from India.
Malaria species involved:
(1) Plasmodium falciparum
(2) Plasmodium vivax
Clinical features:
(1) painful, prolonged erection
(2) it may involve children
The diagnosis requires exclusion of other causes of priapism such as sickle cell anemia.
