CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS, DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES, AND MANAGEMENT OF MALARIA OVALE WITH SECONDARY DENGUE INFECTION: A CASE REPORT

Abstract

Aims: Malaria and Dengue Fever (DF) or Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) are infectious diseases that are both transmitted through mosquito bites. Both have a similar clinical presentation of acute fever, and because of that, the possibility of malaria-dengue co-infection is often overlooked and is commonly misdiagnosed as malaria alone or dengue alone. This case study report aims to demonstrate a rare case, the difficulty of diagnosis and management in a peripheral hospital.
Methodology and results: Reported an adult male with initial suspicion of dengue fever infection only, but after re-anamnesis a history of the patient returning from Papua was obtained. Peripheral blood smear examination confirmed that the patient was also infected with malaria (Plasmodium Ovale). The diagnostic challenge of this case is the initial complaint of fever not accompanied by local symptoms (non-specific), thus raising questions about the cause of the fever in this patient. Malaria and dengue are rare co-infections even in endemic areas. Co-infection of both increases morbidity and mortality in patients, and can be more severe if the patient is treated with only one of them.
Conclusion, significant and impact of study: Malaria and DF/DHF are infectious diseases with similar symptoms, namely acute fever, which makes it difficult to determine the diagnosis, especially in peripheral hospitals. Structured anamnesis, supported by blood smears and routine blood tests, may be a reference for establishing a diagnosis. Proper treatment depends on a correct and quick diagnosis