Scholarlink

Background <p>The COVID-19 pandemic created novel diagnostic challenges for imported malaria due to overlapping symptoms and prioritized SARS-CoV-2 screening. This report presents a critical comparative analysis demonstrating how diagnostic delays during co-circulation directly impact malaria severity—an underreported phenomenon with significant clinical implications.</p> Case presentation <p>Two male patients returning from Africa (Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire) developed fever during mandatory COVID-19 quarantine in Shanghai, China (2021). Both initially tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. Case 1 experienced a 96-h diagnostic delay, progressing to severe falciparum malaria with delirium, thrombocytopenia (33 × 10⁹/L), and acute kidney injury (creatinine 278&#xa0;μmol/L), requiring intensive care. Case 2 was diagnosed within 24&#xa0;h via rapid diagnostic test and microscopy, receiving immediate artesunate treatment without severe complications.</p> Conclusions <p>Diagnostic delay directly impacts severe malaria risk during COVID-19 co-circulation. Parallel testing for both pathogens in febrile travelers from endemic areas is critical. The proposed "48-Hour Three-Tier Diagnostic Response System" should shorten the diagnostic window.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Diagnostic delay inducing severe imported falciparum malaria: a time-sensitivity comparison of two imported cases during COVID-19 co-circulation

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月11日

查看全文
  • Qing-He Gong,
  • Si-Bei Wan

摘要

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic created novel diagnostic challenges for imported malaria due to overlapping symptoms and prioritized SARS-CoV-2 screening. This report presents a critical comparative analysis demonstrating how diagnostic delays during co-circulation directly impact malaria severity—an underreported phenomenon with significant clinical implications.

Case presentation

Two male patients returning from Africa (Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire) developed fever during mandatory COVID-19 quarantine in Shanghai, China (2021). Both initially tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. Case 1 experienced a 96-h diagnostic delay, progressing to severe falciparum malaria with delirium, thrombocytopenia (33 × 10⁹/L), and acute kidney injury (creatinine 278 μmol/L), requiring intensive care. Case 2 was diagnosed within 24 h via rapid diagnostic test and microscopy, receiving immediate artesunate treatment without severe complications.

Conclusions

Diagnostic delay directly impacts severe malaria risk during COVID-19 co-circulation. Parallel testing for both pathogens in febrile travelers from endemic areas is critical. The proposed "48-Hour Three-Tier Diagnostic Response System" should shorten the diagnostic window.