Mixed Infection with Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium ovale in a Returned Traveller: the First Case in Korea

• Published in: Journal of Korean medical science Vol. 34; no. 3; pp. e23 - 5
• Main Authors: Kim, Gayeon, Hong, Hyo-Lim, Kim, So Yeon, Lee, Hye Ryun, Kim, Dong Geun, Park, Seungman, Shin, Hyoung-Shik, Chin, Bum Sik, Kim, YeonJae
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences 21.01.2019; 대한의학회
• Subjects: Case Report; 의학일반; Mixed Infection; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium ovale
• ISSN: 1011-8934; 1598-6357; 1598-6357
• DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2019.34.e23

Mixed-species malaria infections are often unrecognized or underestimated. We hereby report the first described case of mixed infection with and malaria in a returned traveller in Korea. In August 2016, a 25-year-old returned traveller from Cameroon and Democratic Republic of Congo presented with fever. He was diagnosed as malaria and successfully treated with artesunate. And 5 weeks after the completion of treatment, he presented with fever and diagnosed as infection. infection is a rare cause of malaria and often shows delayed presentation due to its dormant liver stage as hypnozoites. At re-presentation, the immunochromatographic test and microscopic examinations of our patient did not reveal , which was only detected via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. This case highlights the importance of considering malaria infection even in persons who have previously received malaria treatment. It also shows the usefulness of PCR testing for diagnosing infections, which often present with a low level of parasitaemia.