Misdiagnosis of Babesiosis as Malaria, Equatorial Guinea, 2014

Emerg Infect Dis. 2018 Aug;24(8):1588-1589. doi: 10.3201/eid2408.180180.

Abstract

We report a case of babesiosis, caused by Babesia microti, in a missionary who worked in Equatorial Guinea but also visited rural Spain. The initial diagnosis, based on clinical features and microscopy, was malaria. The patient's recovery was delayed until she received appropriate treatment for babesiosis.

Keywords: Babesia microti; Equatorial Guinea; human babesiosis; malaria; parasites; vector-borne infections.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Artemisinins / pharmacology
  • Atovaquone / therapeutic use*
  • Azithromycin / therapeutic use*
  • Babesia microti / drug effects*
  • Babesia microti / growth & development
  • Babesia microti / pathogenicity
  • Babesiosis / diagnosis*
  • Babesiosis / drug therapy
  • Babesiosis / parasitology
  • Diagnostic Errors
  • Drug Combinations
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Malaria / diagnosis*
  • Malaria / drug therapy
  • Malaria / parasitology
  • Primaquine / pharmacology
  • Proguanil / therapeutic use*
  • Spain
  • Travel

Substances

  • Antiprotozoal Agents
  • Artemisinins
  • Drug Combinations
  • atovaquone, proguanil drug combination
  • artenimol
  • Azithromycin
  • Primaquine
  • Proguanil
  • Atovaquone