Korean Journal of Infectious Diseases  1998;30(5):478-482

A Case of Intraerythrocytic Parasitism Treated with Quinine and Clindamycin.

Hyun Joo JANG 1 ; Jung Han KIM ; Won Jong PARK ; Cheol Hong KIM ; Dong Gyu KIM ; In Gyu HYUN ; Sun HUH ; Weon Gyu KHO ; Jong Yil CHAI

Affiliations

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Keywords

Human babesiosis; Plasmodium falciparum; Quinine; Clindamycin; Empiric regimen

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

Although rapid diagnosis of human babesiosis usually can be made by microscopic examination of thin and thick blood smears, differentiation between Babesia microti and Plasmodium falciparum can be quite difficult. The parasite is often not visualized in the early course of infection or in a partially treated case and the young trophozoites of these two organisms are similar. Recently, we experienced a case, which was thought as human babesiosis initially by microscopic examination of the Giemsa-stained thin blood smears, but was finally diagno-sed as P. falcifarum infection by indirect immunofluorescent antibody assay and polymerase chain reaction. The patient was treated successfully with quinine and clindamycin, which are effective in both infections. When differential diagnosis is difficult, we suggest combination therapy of quinine and clindamycin as an empirical regimen.