Italian 
English CASI CLINICI – Case Reports
Volume:
Biochimica Clinica 2018; 42(3) e43-e45
Pubblicato on-line:
Giugno 15, 2018
DOI:
10.19186/BC_2018.038
L’utilità della revisione microscopica nella diagnostica della malaria: un’infezione sub-microscopica da Plasmodium falciparum
AUTORI
1Laboratorio Analisi Unificato Rivoli-Pinerolo ASL TO3, Pinerolo (TO)
2Dipartimento d’Emergenza e d’Accettazione - Pronto Soccorso, Pinerolo ASL TO3, Pinerolo (TO)
3Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Malattie Infettive, Università degli Studi di Torino, Torino
ABSTRACT
The usefulness of microscopic review in the diagnosis of malaria: a sub-microscopic infection by Plasmodium falciparum
Malaria is a major global health problem. The clinical diagnosis must be confirmed by laboratory tests. However, the research of malarial plasmodia is performed only in case of clinical suspicion, while it should be used with greater awareness given the increase of the migratory phenomena towards Europe in recent years. We present a case of Plasmodium falciparum infection with a parasitemia of 1/1500 red blood cells in a young immigrant from Burkina Faso carrier of a HbC variant hemoglobin without any alterations to the blood count. The case shows how microscopic revision is a fundamental diagnostic element; the detection of a hemoglobin variant made possible to understand the dynamic of the infection in order to be able to assure to the patient the best therapeutic treatment.