Severe Plasmodium vivax malaria, HIV, tuberculosis co-infection in a Sri Lankan traveller: case management and challenges during the prevention of malaria reintroduction phase

BACKGROUND: The country received malaria-free certification from WHO in September 2016, becoming only the second country in the WHO South East Asia region to be declared malaria-free. Imported malaria cases continue to be reported, with 278 cases reported between 2013 and 2017. The diagnosis of a severe Plasmodium vivax patient co-infected with HIV and tuberculosis is discussed with an overview of the rapid response mounted by the Anti Malaria Campaign (AMC), Sri Lanka. CASE PRESENTATION: A Sri Lankan gem miner who returned from Madagascar on the 6th of April 2018 presented to a private hospital for a malaria diagnostic test on the 21st April, 2 days after the onset of fever. He came on his own for this test due to the awareness he had regarding the risk of imported malaria. As the patient was positive for P. vivax malaria, he was admitted to a government hospital for further management. The patient had features of severe malaria upon admission with a systolic BP < 80 mmHg and thrombocytopaenia (38,000 cells/mm(3)). Treatment with IV artesunate was initiated immediately and management was carried out rapidly and efficiently by the clinicians with guidance from the staff of the AMC headquarters, which resulted in a rapid recovery of the patient. IV artesunate was followed by a course of artemether plus lumefantrine and the blood smear was negative for malaria by the 2nd day. A 14-day course of primaquine was commenced after excluding a G6PD deficiency. Due to an accidental needle stick injury of a health care worker attending on the patient was tested for HIV and subsequently tuberculosis and was found to be positive for both infections. The patient was discharged on the 1st of May with instructions for follow up visits for malaria. Management of the HIV and tuberculosis infections was attended to by the clinicians and staff of the appropriate disease control programmes (i.e. the national STD/AIDS Control Programme in Sri Lanka and the National Programme for tuberculosis control and chest diseases). CONCLUSIONS: It is important to consider comorbid conditions and immunosuppression when a patient with a benign form of malaria presents with severe manifestations. Measures should be strengthened to prevent importation of diseases, such as malaria and AIDS through migrant workers who return from high-risk countries.