Post-Malaria Neurological Syndrome (PMNS) is a rare post-infectious encephalitis which occurs 4 to 60 days after recovery from severe falciparum malaria. There is a proclivity for non-immune travelers visiting endemic areas. 

PMNS must be distinguished from relapse of malaria or cerebral malaria (CM). CM is an encephalopathy occurring during acute malaria infection where parasitemia and other manifestations of malaria such as acidosis, hemolysis, renal and hepatic failure are also present. In PMNS, there is a disease-free interval between treated malaria and the onset of neurological symptoms, parasitemia is absent and other organ systems are not involved. 

MRI abnormalities consist of increased T2-weighted signal in periventricular area, internal capsule, pons, thalamus and corona radiata. It is usually self-limited, lasting 2-14 days, and requires no specific treatment. Steroids may play a role in severe cases.

It is prudent to consider and distinguish the diagnosis of Post Malaria Neurological Syndrome in a patient who presents with new onset neurological symptoms with recent malaria infection in the background.