ABSTRACT

Malaria caused by Plasmodium species is an important parasitic infection in Turkey as in the rest of the world. Malaria cases originating in our country are caused by P. vivax; those caused by other Plasmodium spp. are imported cases. In this article, after work-related travel to Cameroon, a patient who acquired specific clinical signs and symptoms of malaria has been evaluated. The major clinical findings of the patient were fever, chills and shaking. After examination of thin and thick blood smears prepared from the peripheral blood of the patient, a 20% rate of Plasmodium parasitemia was obtained and the case was considered to be a mixed P. falciparum and P. ovale infection. In addition, P. falciparum infection was confirmed using the Optimal Malaria Rapid Test and the presence of another Plasmodium species besides P. falciparum was confirmed. Primaquine was added to quinine and doxycycline therapy for P. ovale hypnozoites. No Plasmodium was found in control blood smears after clinical improvement. In this case, it has been emphasized that in differential diagnosis of fever seen after travel to malaria endemic areas, malaria must be considered and prophylaxis must be carried out before travel.