Delayed diagnosis of Plasmodium vivax malaria in an elderly Sri Lankan pilgrim in India
<p>Malaria was rampant in Sri Lanka two decades ago but we have since been declared free of malaria transmission by the WHO in 2016. However, neighboring India still has a high incidence of malaria, and visitors to India carry a high risk of contracting this disease. Despite the elimination o...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Sri Lankan Society for Microbiology
2020-04-01
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| Series: | Sri Lankan Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://sljid.sljol.info/articles/8267 |
| Summary: | <p>Malaria was rampant in Sri Lanka two decades ago but we have since been declared free of malaria transmission by the WHO in 2016. However, neighboring India still has a high incidence of malaria, and visitors to India carry a high risk of contracting this disease. Despite the elimination of indigenous cases of malaria in Sri Lanka, a fair number of cases are detected from travelers coming from endemic regions of the globe. Delay in diagnosis occurs due to a lack of awareness among the medical community and a missed travel history as observed in this case scenario.</p><p>We report a 71-year-old previously healthy Sri Lankan male who developed a febrile illness after sixteen days of traveling in India on pilgrimage. He presented with a six day history of of illness and it took a further seven days to consider malaria as a possible diagnosis. Malaria antigen was positive on day thirteen of the illness with <em>Plasmodium vivax</em> trophozoites and gametocytes seen on the thick and thin films. He was treated with chloroquine and recovered slowly with clearing of parasitaemia. A correct diagnosis and close liaison with the anti-malaria campaign helped in the successful management of our patient.</p><p>This report is an eye opener to consider malaria as a diagnostic possibility and a clinical dilemma and to take a detailed travel history in patients presenting fever. Raising awareness of travelers about prevention against malaria and the need for malaria prophylaxis is also necessary.</p> |
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| ISSN: | 2012-8169 2448-9654 |