DOI: 10.12890/2020_002007

A Patient with Severe Malaria and COVID-19: How Do You Tell the Difference between These Infections?

Authors

  • Maria João Correia COVID Department, Hospital São Francisco Xavier, Lisboa, Portugal; Internal Medicine Department, Hospital São Francisco Xavier, Lisboa, Portugal
  • Luciana Frade COVID Department, Hospital São Francisco Xavier, Lisboa, Portugal; Internal Medicine Department, Hospital São Francisco Xavier, Lisboa, Portugal
  • Renato Guerreiro COVID Department, Hospital São Francisco Xavier, Lisboa, Portugal; Internal Medicine Department, Hospital São Francisco Xavier, Lisboa, Portugal
  • Inês Araujo COVID Department, Hospital São Francisco Xavier, Lisboa, Portugal; Internal Medicine Department, Hospital São Francisco Xavier, Lisboa, Portugal
  • Teresa Baptista COVID Department, Hospital São Francisco Xavier, Lisboa, Portugal; Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Egas Moniz, Lisboa, Portugal
  • Cândida Fonseca COVID Department, Hospital São Francisco Xavier, Lisboa, Portugal; Internal Medicine Department, Hospital São Francisco Xavier, Lisboa, Portugal
  • Kamal Mansinho COVID Department, Hospital São Francisco Xavier, Lisboa, Portugal; Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Egas Moniz, Lisboa, Portugal

mariajcorreia91@gmail.com

Keywords

COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, malaria, Plasmodium falciparum

Abstract

Coronavirus infection, known as COVID-19, is characterized by clinical, epidemiological and biological features similar to those of malaria. In each case, fever, myalgia, fatigue, headaches and gastrointestinal symptoms may be present. Both diseases can also induce a cytokine storm and pro-coagulant states. An appropriate epidemiological approach and differential diagnosis are very important so that the right clinical intervention can be selected.
Malaria remains a serious global public health issue, especially in endemic countries. Elimination campaigns are helping to control the disease, but in many countries these programs are now at risk of failure due to logistic and economic problems caused by COVID-19.
The authors describe the case of a patient with co-infection with malaria and COVID-19, reminding us that during this coronavirus pandemic it is critical to consider other diagnoses, particularly in people traveling between countries.

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References

  1. Nghochuzie NN, Olwal CO, Udoakang AJ, Amenga-Etego LN, Amambua-Ngwa A. Pausing the fight against malaria to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa: is the future of malaria bleak? Front Microbiol 2020;11:1476.
  2. Sardar S, Sharma R, Alyamani TYM, Aboukamar M. COVID-19 and Plasmodium vivax malaria co-infection. IDCases 2020;21:e00879.
  3. Gutman JR, Lucchi NW, Cantey PT, Steinhardt LC, Samuels AM, Kamb ML, et al. Malaria and parasitic neglected tropical diseases: potential syndemics with COVID-19? Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020;103(2):572–577.
  4. Rogerson SJ, Beeson JG, Laman M, Poespoprodjo JR, William T, Simpson J, et al. Identifying and combating the impacts of COVID-19 on malaria. BMC Med 2020;18:239.

Published

2020-11-13

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 12 (2020)

Categories

How to Cite

1.
Correia MJ, Frade L, Guerreiro R, Araujo I, Baptista T, Fonseca C, et al. A Patient with Severe Malaria and COVID-19: How Do You Tell the Difference between These Infections? EJCRIM [Internet]. 2020 Nov. 13 [cited 2026 Nov. 4];7(12). Available from: https://ejcrim.com/index.php/ejcrim/article/view/2007

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