Late Parasitological Failure and Subsequent Isolated Gametocytemia of Uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in a Returned Traveler From Ghana, 2023
10.3346/jkms.2024.39.e186
- Author:
Jiyeon BAE
1
;
Jeong-Han KIM
;
Seunghwan KIM
;
Jungwon HUH
;
Hee Jung CHOI
Author Information
1. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, Seoul, Korea
- Publication Type:Case Report
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2024;39(22):e186-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Herein, we report a case of uncomplicated falciparum malaria with late parasitological failure in a 45-year-old businessman returning from Ghana. The patient visited the emergency department with high fever, headache, and dizziness. He traveled without antimalarial chemoprophylaxis. Laboratory tests led to the diagnosis of uncomplicated falciparum malaria with an initial density of 37,669 parasites per μL of blood (p/μL). The patient was treated with intravenous artesunate followed by atovaquone/proguanil. He was discharged with improved condition and decreased parasite density of 887 p/μL. However, at follow-up, parasite density increased to 7,630 p/μL despite the absence of any symptoms. Suspecting treatment failure, the patient was administered intravenous artesunate and doxycycline for seven days and then artemether/lumefantrine for three days. Blood smear was negative for asexual parasitemia after re-treatment but positive for gametocytemia until day 101 from the initial diagnosis. Overall, this case highlights the risk of late parasitological failure in patients with imported uncomplicated falciparum malaria.
