Korean J Infect Dis.
1998 Oct;30(5):478-482.
A Case of Intraerythrocytic Parasitism Treated with Quinine and Clindamycin
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Internal Medcine, College of Medcine, Hallym University.
- 2Department of Parasitology, College of Medcine, Hallym University.
- 3Department of Parasitology, College of Medcine, Inje University.
- 4Department of Parasitology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
- Although rapid diagnosis of human babesiosis usually can be made by microscopic examination of thin and thick blood smears, differentiation between Babesia microti and Plasmodium falciparum can be quite difficult. The parasite is often not visualized in the early course of infection or in a partially treated case and the young trophozoites of these two organisms are similar. Recently, we experienced a case, which was thought as human babesiosis initially by microscopic examination of the Giemsa-stained thin blood smears, but was finally diagno-sed as P. falcifarum infection by indirect immunofluorescent antibody assay and polymerase chain reaction. The patient was treated successfully with quinine and clindamycin, which are effective in both infections. When differential diagnosis is difficult, we suggest combination therapy of quinine and clindamycin as an empirical regimen.
