Plasmodium falciparum and Mycoplasma pneumoniae co-infection presenting with cerebral malaria manifesting orofacial dyskinesia and haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

BACKGROUND: Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease with diverse clinical manifestations caused by a parasitic protozoan of the genus Plasmodium. Complex inter-relationships between Mycoplasma species and Plasmodium parasites have been previously noted in vitro. This is the first report of Plasmodium falciparum and Mycoplasma pneumoniae co-infection in a human host presenting with cerebral malaria manifesting orofacial dyskinesias and haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 55-year-old Sri Lankan man with a recent visit to South Africa presented with an acute febrile illness, cough and worsening dyspnoea with alveolar-interstitial infiltrates on chest radiography. Serological evaluation confirmed a diagnosis of Mycoplasma infection. He subsequently developed encephalopathy with orofacial dyskinesia. A diagnosis of severe P. falciparum infection with significant parasitaemia was established. Peripheral blood cytopaenia occurred due to haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in the bone marrow. Complete clinical and haematological recovery was achieved with intravenous artesunate. CONCLUSIONS: Plasmodium falciparum and Mycoplasma pneumoniae co-infection occurring in vivo manifests clinical features that are plausibly a result of the interaction between the two microorganisms. This is the first report of orofacial dyskinesia in either infection. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-016-1517-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.