Co-infection of COVID-19 and recurrent malaria
In tropical countries, endemic diseases such as malaria can be challenging to distinguish from COVID-19 because of the similarities in presenting symptoms. Here we reported a case of a young soldier with fever and myalgia six days before admission, with non-productive cough, chills, nausea and vomi...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Infection in Developing Countries |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/13793 |
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| Summary: | In tropical countries, endemic diseases such as malaria can be challenging to distinguish from COVID-19 because of the similarities in presenting symptoms. Here we reported a case of a young soldier with fever and myalgia six days before admission, with non-productive cough, chills, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, and headache for two days. Previously, he had experienced four times of malaria infection. He had a history of positive non-falciparum malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT) two days before admission. Significant findings were epigastric tenderness, splenomegaly, and severe thrombocytopenia of 36×103 cells / µL. A naso-oropharyngeal swab examination revealed a positive SARS-CoV-2 infection. Consequently, he was hospitalized for 12 days, successfully treated, and discharged without sequelae. Thus, in light of a pandemic, physicians need to raise the suspicion of concurrent COVID-19 infection with other tropical diseases, especially at-risk patients, because malaria and COVID-19 may share similar manifestations. Moreover, further ancillary testing, such as RDT, may be warranted.
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| ISSN: | 1972-2680 |