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Falciparum malaria presenting with pruritic rashes.
S Toovey1, A Jamieson, G Nettleton
1SAA-Netcare Travel Clinics, South Africa and Mozambique, P.O. Box 786692, Sandton 2146, South Africa.
Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease
|February 13, 2007
Summary
Malaria, typically not causing rash, can present with pruritic rashes in some cases, especially with prior exposure. Physicians should consider malaria in travelers with rashes, even if unusual.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Tropical Medicine
- Dermatology
Background:
- Malaria is rarely associated with skin manifestations.
- Pruritic rashes are an atypical presentation of malaria.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report two cases of acute falciparum malaria presenting with pruritic rashes.
- To review literature for similar malaria-associated rash presentations.
- To highlight the importance of considering malaria in patients with rash and exposure history.
Main Methods:
- Case report of two non-immune individuals with acute falciparum malaria.
- Literature review of malaria cases with cutaneous symptoms.
Main Results:
- Two cases of acute falciparum malaria presented with distinct pruritic rashes: urticarial and papular.
- Literature search identified additional malaria cases with urticarial or pruritic rashes globally.
- Prior malaria exposure may correlate with rash development.
Conclusions:
- Physicians should consider malaria in patients presenting with rashes, particularly those with a history of travel to endemic areas.
- Atypical presentations like rash should not exclude malaria diagnosis in at-risk individuals.
- This is crucial for travelers returning from malarious regions to developed countries.
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