[Life-threatening Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia, in an infant returning from the tropics].
BACKGROUND
Severe falciparum malaria is a polymorphous life-threatening disease. Hyperparasitemia is rare among non-immune children returning from tropical areas. CARE REPORT: We report a case of an infant returning from Ivory Coast who presented with fever, prostration and marked thrombocytopenia (22,000 platelets/mm(3)). Blood slide showed Plasmodium falciparum ring forms. Parasite density dramatically increased from 1.7% to 45%, and the child developed several features of severe malaria, according to WHO definition.


CONCLUSIONS
In this non-immune infant, prostration and thrombopocytopenia seemed to be earlier predictors of severity than hyperparasitemia and other WHO criteria, which have not been yet validated in travelling children.
Gérardin
P
P
Réanimation pédiatrique, hôpital Jeanne-de-Flandre, 2, avenue Eugène-Avinée, 59037 Lille cedex, France.
Dorkenoo
A
A
Cremer
R
R
Chenaud
M
M
Camus
D
D
Leclerc
F
F
D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011803:Quinine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003294:Seizures, Febrile / Q000469:parasitology; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000469:parasitology; D014195:Travel; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000962:Antimalarials; D011803:Quinine