A 34-year-old lady presents with high grade fever with chills and rigors. On examination a firm spleen is felt 3 cm below costal margin with right upper quadrant tenderness. Peripheral smear was prepared. Diagnosis is?
High-Yield Explanation
Ans. (b) Plasmodium falciparum.* Notice the rings inside RBC's with delicate cytoplasm and one or two small chromatin dots.* The RBC's that are infected are not enlarged and there is multiple infection of RBC which is diagnostic of P. falciparum infection.* Occasional applique forms (rings appearing on the periphery of the RBC) can he present.* P. falciparum gametocytes are crescent or sausage shaped (See middle of image). The chromatin is in a single Mass (macrogamete) or diffuse (microgamete)Image source - style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif">