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A Multi-detection Assay for Malaria Transmitting Mosquitoes
Published on: February 28, 2015
IMPORTED TROPICAL MALARIA (CASE REPORT)
M Andreychyn1, V Kopcha1, I Ishchuk1
1I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Ukraine.
Abstract:
Malaria is a parasitic disease. It is one of blood infections caused by malaria plasmodia. The disease is transmitted to a human by a bite of a female mosquito of Anopheles genus. Local malaria transmission in Ukraine has not been registered since 1956, however, every year some imported cases occur. In 2017, 45 cases of malaria were imported to Ukraine: 80% of them were caused by P. falciparum. The aim of the research is to present a case of imported tropical malaria in a pregnant woman with the development of malaria coma. An unusual course of the illness made diagnoses difficult due to partial immunity of the patient caused by multiple previous invasions of malaria plasmodia. The diagnosis was confirmed by blood microscopy. A literature on epidemiology, clinical findings and current tropical malaria course has been scanned as well. In the presence of an appropriate epidemiological anamnesis, the patients with fever of unknown genesis should first of all be examined for malaria, the most socially significant tropical disease. It is necessary to define the type of malarial plasmodium by repeated blood parasitoscopy by a thick-blood film and blood smear coloured by Gimza-Romanovsky method. Doctors' vigilance against malaria allows preventing complicated forms and late relapses of this malignant invasion. The countries free of malaria can also face this problem and therefore they should be ready to diagnose and treat this disease effectively. The infectious diseases hospitals of Ukraine should be supplied with antimalarial drugs.
Insights
Imported malaria, particularly Plasmodium falciparum, poses a risk even in non-endemic countries. Early diagnosis via blood microscopy is crucial for pregnant women to prevent severe complications like malaria coma.
Area of Science:
- Tropical medicine
- Infectious diseases
- Parasitology
Background:
- Malaria, a parasitic blood infection transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes, has no local transmission in Ukraine since 1956.
- Imported malaria cases occur annually, with Plasmodium falciparum accounting for 80% of the 45 cases in Ukraine in 2017.
Observation:
- A case of imported tropical malaria in a pregnant woman presented with unusual symptoms, complicating diagnosis due to partial immunity from prior infections.
- Diagnosis was confirmed through blood microscopy, highlighting the need for vigilance in patients with fever of unknown origin and relevant epidemiological history.
Findings:
- Microscopy of thick-blood films and Giemsa-Romanovsky stained blood smears are essential for identifying Plasmodium species.
- Prompt diagnosis and treatment are vital to prevent severe malaria forms, including malaria coma, and late relapses.
Implications:
- Healthcare providers in non-malaria-endemic regions must maintain a high index of suspicion for malaria in febrile patients with relevant travel history.
- Ensuring adequate supplies of antimalarial drugs in infectious disease hospitals is critical for effective management of imported malaria cases.
