Co-infection of COVID-19 and recurrent malaria

Authors

  • Angelita Pusparani Aloei Saboe General Hospital, Wongkaditi, Kota Utara, Kota Gorontalo, Gorontalo, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2736-1434
  • Joshua Henrina School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Penjaringan, Kota Jakarta Utara, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta, Indonesia
  • Alius Cahyadi Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Penjaringan, Kota Jakarta Utara, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7939-5479

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.13793

Keywords:

COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Malaria, Co-infection

Abstract

In tropical countries, endemic diseases such as malaria can be challenging to distinguish from COVID-19 because of the similarities in presenting symptoms. Here we reported a case of a young soldier with fever and myalgia six days before admission, with non-productive cough, chills, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, and headache for two days. Previously, he had experienced four times of malaria infection. He had a history of positive non-falciparum malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT) two days before admission. Significant findings were epigastric tenderness, splenomegaly, and severe thrombocytopenia of 36×103 cells / µL. A naso-oropharyngeal swab examination revealed a positive SARS-CoV-2 infection. Consequently, he was hospitalized for 12 days, successfully treated, and discharged without sequelae. Thus, in light of a pandemic, physicians need to raise the suspicion of concurrent COVID-19 infection with other tropical diseases, especially at-risk patients, because malaria and COVID-19 may share similar manifestations. Moreover, further ancillary testing, such as RDT, may be warranted.

Author Biographies

Angelita Pusparani, Aloei Saboe General Hospital, Wongkaditi, Kota Utara, Kota Gorontalo, Gorontalo, Indonesia

  1. Aloei Saboe General Hospital Jalan Prof. Dr. Hi. Aloei Saboe, Wongkaditi, Kota Utara, Kota Gorontalo, Gorontalo 96115
  2. School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Jl. Pluit Raya No.2, RT.21/RW.8, Penjaringan, Kec. Penjaringan, Kota Jakarta Utara, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta, 14440, Indonesia

Alius Cahyadi, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Penjaringan, Kota Jakarta Utara, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta, Indonesia

Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia / Atma Jaya Hospital, Jl. Pluit Raya No.2, RT.21/RW.8, Penjaringan, Kec. Penjaringan, Kota Jakarta Utara, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta, 14440, Indonesia

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Published

2021-05-31

How to Cite

1.
Pusparani A, Henrina J, Cahyadi A (2021) Co-infection of COVID-19 and recurrent malaria. J Infect Dev Ctries 15:625–629. doi: 10.3855/jidc.13793

Issue

Section

Coronavirus Pandemic