Malaria Diagnosed in Elderly Man After Return from Chad, NEJM Reports

The case was shared by the journal’s official account and describes how the man was brought to an emergency department after being discovered unresponsive. He had returned from a 31-day trip to Chad just one week before. A blood smear test — where a thin layer of blood is examined under a microscope — revealed ring-form trophozoites (an early stage of the malaria parasite) inside red blood cells, confirming the diagnosis.

The case appears in the journal’s Images in Clinical Medicine series, which uses striking diagnostic images to illustrate conditions clinicians may encounter. Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes and is not present in the UK — but it can be carried back by travellers returning from affected regions in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and elsewhere.

It’s a reminder that symptoms can appear days or even weeks after returning home.

Anyone who has recently travelled to a malaria-risk country and develops a fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, or fatigue should tell a doctor or NHS 111 about their travel history immediately. The NHS advises that malaria can deteriorate quickly, above all in older adults, and should be treated as urgent.

Key information

• If you feel unwell after travelling abroad, contact your GP or call NHS 111 and mention where you have been
• For suspected malaria with high fever or confusion, call 999 or go to your nearest emergency department
• The NHS recommends taking antimalarial medication before, during, and after travel to at-risk countries — speak to a pharmacist or GP before you travel
• Travel health advice for specific countries is available through NHS travel health services and pharmacies offering travel consultations