Clinical Features of Plasmodium Vivax Malaria

BACKGROUND: Since its reemergence in 1993, a number of cases of Plasmodium vivax malaria have been reported in Korea. We analyzed the cases of malaria patients living in Chuncheon and its neighboring communities, to characterize its clinical manifestations and laboratory findings, and to identify any differences between our clinical findings and those of previous studies. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical records of cases that were confirmed as malaria by peripheral blood smear at Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital from July 1998 to September 2001. RESULTS: Forty-four cases were included in the study. All patients were infected with Plasmodium vivax, and presented with high fever; however, tertian fever developed in only 15 patients (35.7%). A number of cases showed various symptoms, which included headache, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Of the 44 cases identified, 41 (93.2%) developed malaria between June and September. Thrombocytopenia was a prominent finding in 75% of the cases at diagnosis, but resolved during or after therapy. Other laboratory abnormalities such as, anemia, elevated transamines, coagulopathies, and elevated lactose dehydrogenase (LDH) were also noted. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) studies were performed in five cases, one of which showed pleocytosis in the CSF. CONCLUSION: We noted only 15 patients (35.7%) with tertian fever; the other patients showed variable fever patterns. Thrombocytopenia was the most prominent laboratory finding. Therefore, we suggest that malaria should be included in the differential diagnosis of febrile diseases with an onset between June to and September, regardless of the pattern of the fever.

Clinical features of Plasmodium vivax malaria / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Since Plasmodium vivax malaria reemerged in Korea in 1993, a number of patients with malaria have been reported. We analyzed the cases with malaria who lived in Chuncheon and neighboring communities to find out clinical manifestations, laboratory findings and the differences in clinical findings compared to previous studies. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical records of the cases who were confirmed as malaria by peripheral blood smear in Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital from July, 1998 to Octorber, 2001. RESULTS: Forty-four cases were included. All cases were Plasmodium vivax with high fever, but tertian fever developed only in 15 patients (35.7%). A number of cases showed various symptoms including headache, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting. Of the all cases, 41 cases (93.2%) developed malaria between June and September. Thrombocytopenia was prominent finding which was noted in 75% of the cases at diagnosis, and recovered during or after treatment. Other laboratory abnormalities such as anemia, elevated transaminases, coagulopathies, and elevated LDH level were also noted. Five patients were performed CSF studies, one patient showed pleocytosis in CSF. CONCLUSION: We observed that only 15 patients (35.7%) had tertian fever, the others had variable fever patterns. Thrombocytopenia was the prominent findings. Therefore we suggest that malaria should be included in the differential diagnosis of febrile diseases which developed from June to September regardless of the fever patterns.