Malaria in the Time of COVID-19: Do Not Miss the Real Cause of Illness

Trop Med Infect Dis. 2021 Mar 26;6(2):40. doi: 10.3390/tropicalmed6020040.

Abstract

We report a case of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in a patient asymptomatically co-infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In the current ongoing coronavirus pandemic, co-infections with unrelated life-threatening febrile conditions may pose a particular challenge to clinicians. The current situation increases the risk for cognitive biases in medical management.

Keywords: cognitive bias; diagnostic reasoning; differential diagnosis; plasmodium falciparum; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.