Malaria alarm in Graz: Journey from Africa brings surprising diagnosis!

A spectacular incident in Styria: A returnee from Africa brings a highly infectious illness! This was the dramatic scenario of an unprecedented simulation at the Clinical Skills Center of the Med Uni Graz, as krone.at . The exercise, which took place in Austria for the first time in this dimension, aimed to test the reaction to suspected a high infection. Experts were in use to deal with various experienced emergency scenarios.

The alarming situation is supported by a specific case: A 42-year-old patient had to go to the clinic two weeks after a 16-day safari in Tanzania because it suffered from diarrhea and severe vomiting, according to the descriptions of Univadis.de . Despite taking antibiotics before the disease, it turned out that it had not followed the recommended malaria prophylaxis. The diagnosis was quickly confirmed: Plasmodium Falciparum was demonstrated, which indicates an acute malaria infection.

first signs of a serious disease

The patient's condition deteriorated and she was transferred to the intensive care unit where she was treated with targeted therapy. Despite initially suspected antibiotic-associated problems and symptoms, which were incorrectly considered to be a gastrointestinal infection, a targeted query of the international history proved to be essential for the diagnosis. The treatment with Artesunat finally had an effect, and just a few days after the admission, the patient was able to leave the hospital, as reported.

This incident illustrates urgency to consider a potential malaria infection after travel abroad for symptoms such as fever and diarrhea. The guidelines of experts emphasize that careful review of plasmodia is particularly necessary when traveling to endemic areas to avoid serious courses and to ensure the safety of returners from risk areas.