Falciparum Malaria Incidentally Pretreated with Azithromycin
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- Shibahara Daisuke
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Respiratory and Digestive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Japan
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- Kinjo Takeshi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Respiratory and Digestive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Japan
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- Nishiyama Naoya
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Respiratory and Digestive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Japan
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- Kami Wakaki
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Respiratory and Digestive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Japan
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- Nabeya Daijiro
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Respiratory and Digestive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Japan
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- Haranaga Shusaku
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Respiratory and Digestive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Japan
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- Higa Futoshi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Respiratory and Digestive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Japan
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- Tateyama Masao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Respiratory and Digestive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Japan
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- Shinzato Takashi
- Division of Infectious Diseases and General Internal Medicine, Nakagami General Hospital, Japan
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- Toma Hiromu
- Department of Parasitology and Immunopathoetiology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Japan
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- Kishimoto Hidehiro
- Department of Parasitology and Immunopathoetiology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Japan
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- Fujita Jiro
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Respiratory and Digestive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Japan
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Abstract
A 65-year-old man, who recently returned from Liberia, visited a clinic complaining of fever, and azithromycin was prescribed. The patient presented to a general hospital 5 days after the onset of symptoms, however, a blood smear examination failed to detect malaria. Contrary to the blood smear result, a rapid antigen test in our hospital was strongly-positive for falciparum malaria, indicating a high level of malarial antigen in the blood. Moreover, laboratory examinations on admission showed a tendency for improvement. We assumed that the administration of azithromycin partially treated malaria, thus complicating the blood smear diagnosis. We should be careful in prescribing azithromycin, which is widely used in clinics, to travelers returning from malaria-endemic countries.<br>
Journal
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- Internal Medicine
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Internal Medicine 54 (19), 2513-2516, 2015
The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine
