A strange case of Malaria in a Nigerian native boy.

Main Article Content

Paola Magro
University Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and Spedali Civili General Hospital, Brescia, Italy

Ilaria Izzo
University Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and Spedali Civili General Hospital, Brescia, Italy

Barbara Saccani
University Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and Spedali Civili General Hospital, Brescia, Italy

Salvatore Casari
University Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and Spedali Civili General Hospital, Brescia, Italy

Silvio Caligaris
University Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and Spedali Civili General Hospital, Brescia, Italy

Lina Rachele Tomasoni
University Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and Spedali Civili General Hospital, Brescia, Italy

Alberto Matteelli
University Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and Spedali Civili General Hospital, Brescia, Italy

Annamaria Lombardi
University Department of Pediatrics, University of Brescia and Spedali Civili General Hospital, Brescia, Italy

Antonella Meini
University Department of Pediatrics, University of Brescia and Spedali Civili General Hospital, Brescia, Italy

Francesco Castelli
University Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and Spedali Civili General Hospital, Brescia, Italy

Keywords

Malaria, Sickle Cell Trait, Splenic Infarction

Abstract

The protective role of SCT in malaria endemic areas has been proved and prevalence of HbS gene in malaria endemic areas is high. Splenic infarction is a well-known complication of SCT, rarely associated with malaria. A Nigerian boy was admitted to our ward after returning from his country of origin, for P. falciparum malaria. He underwent abdominal US for upper right abdominal pain, showing cholecystitis and multiple splenic abscesses. Empiric antibiotic therapy was undertaken. Bartonella, Echinococcus, Entamoeba serologies, blood cultures, Quantiferon test, coproparasitologic exam were negative; endocarditis was excluded. He underwent further blood exams and abdomen MRI, confirming the presence of signal alterations areas, with radiographic appearance of recent post-infarction outcomes. Hemoglobin electrophoresis showed a percentage of HbS of 40.6% and a diagnosis of SCT was made.

Splenic infarction should be taken into account in patients with malaria and localized abdominal pain.  Moreover, diagnosis of SCT should be considered.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.


Abstract 2093
PDF Downloads 669
HTML Downloads 1236

References

[1] Luzzatto L. Sickle Cell Anaemia and Malaria. Mediter J Hematol Infect Dis 2012, 4(1): e2012065.

[2] Russo G et al. Italian Guidelines for the Sickle Cell Disease in Pediatrics. AIEOP. Article available at http://www.aieop.org/files/files_htmlarea/tutto%20giu12.pdf last accessed on November 12th, 2016.

[3] Kark J. Sickle cell trait. Article available at http://sickle.bwh.harvard.edu/sickle_trait.html, last accessed on November 12th, 2016.

[4] Hwang JH, Lee CS. Malaria-Induced Splenic Infarction. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 2014;91(6):1094–1100.

[5] Cinquetti G, Banal F, Rondel C, et al. Splenic infarction during Plasmodium ovale acute malaria: first case reported. Malar J 2010;9: 288.

Article Sidebar

PDF HTML
Published
Mar 1, 2017
DOI https://doi.org/10.4084/mjhid.2017.023

Article Details

How to Cite

Magro, P. (2017) “A strange case of Malaria in a Nigerian native boy”., Mediterranean Journal of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, 9(1), p. e2017023. doi: 10.4084/mjhid.2017.023.
Issue
Vol. 9 No. 1 (2017): Review, Original Articles, Case Reports
Section
Case Reports

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Transfer of Copyright and Permission to Reproduce Parts of Published Papers. Authors will grant copyright of their articles to the Institute of Hematology, Catholic University, Rome . No formal permission will be required to reproduce parts (tables or illustrations) of published papers, provided the source is quoted appropriately and reproduction has no commercial intent. Reproductions with commercial intent will require written permission and payment of royalties.