Delays and errors in malaria diagnosis

A sizable number of patients who contracted malaria during their travels have either been misdiagnosed in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, or have suffered due to delays in diagnosis, a senior health official said in the capital on Monday. While the exact number of misdiagnosed or delayed diagnosis cases are not available, a greater number of malaria cases have been recorded by the HAAD in recent years, Dr Ahmad Abdullah, senior officer for communicable diseases at the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD), told Gulf News. “The number of reported malaria cases in the emirate has doubled between 2005 and 2011. Last year [2011], 2,731 patients were diagnosed with the disease. While none of the patients contracted the disease locally, there is a risk of inaccurate diagnoses because the disease could be reintroduced into the UAE,” Dr Abdullah said. Malaria is a disease indicated by high fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle ache and headaches that could be fatal if not treated promptly. It is transmitted by certain microorganisms that are transmitted by the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito, and first infect the patient’s liver.The UAE itself has been certified as a malaria-free country by the World Health Organisation since 2007. However, a greater number of travellers and influx of people from countries in southeast Asia and sub-Saharan African, where malaria is endemic, has contributed to the increase in the number of cases diagnosed in Abu Dhabi. “In addition, we believe the number of malaria cases was previously under-reported in the emirate, thus contributing to the increase in the number of reported cases,” Dr Abdullah said.Explaining the risk of misdiagnosis, the doctor said acute symptoms of malaria, such as fever and aches, can often be relieved with basic medication. However, if the microorganisms causing the disease are not eradicated from the patient’s liver, the patient may experience a relapse, sometimes even after years. “Accurate identification of the malaria microorganisms in the laboratory is the cornerstone for the physician to treat malaria according to internationally recommended guidelines,” Dr Abdullah added. The HAAD, in collaboration with the UAE and Oman ministries of health, is currently running a three-day training course for public and private hospital laboratory technicians aimed at refreshing technicians’ knowledge of malaria diagnosis. “Malaria is both treatable and preventable,” Dr Abdullah stressed. He recommended that residents visit their physicians at least a week before travelling to tropical and malaria-endemic countries in order to start taking the tablets that can prevent the contraction of malaria.from gulfnews.com