Korean J Pediatr Infect Dis.  1997 Nov;4(2):293-297. 10.14776/kjpid.1997.4.2.293.

A 2 years-old Male with Malaria

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, Korea.
  • 2Department of Clinical Pathology, College of Medicine, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, Korea.
  • 3Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, Korea.

Abstract

Malaria, caused by any of four species of protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium, is charaterized by high fever, anemia and splenomegaly. Although malaria is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, in Korea indigenous malaria has been believed to be eradicated by 1984. However, since the case report of native malaria in 1993, reported cases have been increased annually, reaching more than 300 cases in 1996. We experienced a 2 years-old male with fever, severe anemia and splenomegaly who resided in Inchon city. He had the history of travelling to the area (Yunchon) near westem Demilitarized Zone for 1 month this summer. After more than 2 weeks without special attention, he was presented with pallor, anemia and splenomegaly. He was diagnosed to have malaria by Plasmodium vivax with the help of peripheral blood smears which showed various forms of malaria, i.e., ring form, trophozoites, shizonts and gametocytes. He was treated successfully with hydroxychloroquine and primaquine. We report this case with brief review of related literature.

Keyword

Indigenous malaria; Plasmodium vivax; Children

MeSH Terms

Anemia
Child
Fever
Humans
Hydroxychloroquine
Incheon
Korea
Malaria*
Male*
Mortality
Pallor
Parasites
Plasmodium
Plasmodium vivax
Primaquine
Splenomegaly
Trophozoites
Hydroxychloroquine
Primaquine
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