title: Fever in the returning traveller: the importance of sensitivity.
abstract: We report the case of a 28-year-old man, presenting with episodes of fever and rigours, having recently returned from Cameroon and Uganda. Initial investigations for malaria were negative, and the patient was sent home without a clear diagnosis. Subsequent review of the blood film revealed the presence of Plasmodium ovale. This case highlights the importance of repeated and careful inspection of blood films, given the relatively low sensitivity of rapid diagnostic tests in P. ovale infection. It also illustrates the importance of the travel history in the diagnosis of malaria.
authors.affiliation: Estcourt Provincial Hospital, Estcourt, South Africa.
authors.forename: K E J
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Philip
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baddeley
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bovill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002163:Cameroon; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005334:Fever / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D041122:Plasmodium ovale / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011319:Primaquine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014195:Travel; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014454:Uganda
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D002738:Chloroquine; D011319:Primaquine