A Case of Severe Falciparum Malaria in a Returned Traveler

• Main Authors: Qin Jian Low, Wai Kar Lau, Tzyy Huei Lim, Ri An Lee, Seng Wee Cheo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia 2020-11-01
• Series: Malaysian Family Physician
• Subjects: cerebral malaria; fever; plasmodium falciparum; traveler
• Online Access: https://e-mfp.org/wp-content/uploads/v15n3-case-report-4.pdf

Primary care providers should be alert to travel-related infections. Around 10-40% of returning travelers from all destinations and 15-70% of travelers from tropical settings experience ill health, either overseas or upon returning home.1 A systematic approach concentrating on possible infections should be undertaken based on the patient’s travel location, immunization history, presence of malaria chemoprophylaxis at the destination, other potential exposures, incubation period, and clinical presentation.2-3 The World Health Organization (WHO) website is constantly being updated on specific travel-related infections and recent geographical outbreaks. In this paper, we report a case of severe falciparum malaria in a returned traveler.