A case of severe Plasmodium ovale malaria with acute respiratory distress syndrome and splenic infarction in a male traveller presenting in Italy

Abstract Background Plasmodium ovale malaria is usually considered a tropical infectious disease associated with low morbidity and mortality. However, severe disease and death have previously been reported. Case presentation A case of severe P. ovale malaria in a healthy Caucasian man with a triangl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Malaria Journal
Main Authors: Maria Virginia Tomassi, Alessandra D’Abramo, Serena Vita, Angela Corpolongo, Antonella Vulcano, Tommaso Ascoli Bartoli, Barbara Bartolini, Francesca Faraglia, Emanuele Nicastri
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024
Subjects:
Plasmodium ovale
Malaria
Splenic infarction
Acute respiratory distress syndrome
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine
RC955-962
Infectious and parasitic diseases
RC109-216
Arctic
Traveller
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-024-04911-4
https://doaj.org/article/b67a9b232e364a8d95e7373188ac2f3f
Description
Summary:Abstract Background Plasmodium ovale malaria is usually considered a tropical infectious disease associated with low morbidity and mortality. However, severe disease and death have previously been reported. Case presentation A case of severe P. ovale malaria in a healthy Caucasian man with a triangle splenic infarction and clinical progression towards Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome was reported despite a rapid response to oral chloroquine treatment with 24-h parasitaemia clearance. Conclusion Plasmodium ovale malaria is generally considered as a benign disease, with low parasitaemia. However, severe disease and death have occasionally been reported. It is important to be aware that occasionally it can progress to serious illness and death even in immunocompetent individuals.

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