Antonio Mastroianni
Unità Operativa Malattie Infettive, Italy
Title: Title: Dengue and plasmodium falciparum malaria confection. imported cases in tralevers and a review of the literature
Biography
Biography: Antonio Mastroianni
Abstract
Malaria and dengue (DENV) are both common in the tropical countries in geographical areas where both the vectors (Anopheles mosquito and Aedesmosquito, respectively) coexist. Simultaneous infections in areas where both diseases are co-endemic in many places of the world are possible, although under-recognized and not frequently reported. The aim of this report is to describe two imported cases of dual infection with falciparum malaria and DENV in a 20-year-old Italian girl and in a 13-years old Jessica after returning from Burkina Faso, the first case series of imported DENV and falciparum malaria co-infection in Italy. We emphasize the need for increased surveillance of the possible malaria and DENV co-infection in travelers after returning in Europe from endemic areas. Diagnostic assessment of imported fever should rely mainly on geographic exposure, on specific risk profiles and clinical parameters. Differential diagnosis may be particularly critical and early diagnosis of the main tropical conditions would further improve patient management. Malaria and DENV have similar clinical findings but the treatment of these two illnesses is different and consequently diagnosis of one should not rule out testing for the other infection. A literature search suggest that dual infections are not uncommon and it would have different implications for clinicians, including unexpected clinical and laboratory findings. Clinicians should maintaining a high level of clinical suspicion against both malaria and dengue and the possibility of co-infection in the evaluation of international travelers returning in a European country from endemic areas usually in the tropics.