RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A case of an avoidable admission to an Ebola treatment unit with malaria and an associated heat illness
JF Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps
JO J R Army Med Corps
FD British Medical Journal Publishing Group
SP 222
OP 225
DO 10.1136/jramc-2015-000450
VO 162
IS 3
A1 Andrew T Cox
A1 I Schoonbaert
A1 T Trinick
A1 A Phillips
A1 D Marion
YR 2016
UL http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/content/162/3/222.abstract
AB We present a 27-year old British nurse admitted to the Kerry Town Ebola Treatment Unit, Sierra Leone, with symptoms fitting suspect-Ebola virus disease (EVD) case criteria. A diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum malaria and heat illness was ultimately made, both of which could have been prevented through employing simple measures not utilised in this case. The dual pathology of her presentation was atypical for either disease meaning EVD could not be immediately excluded. She remained isolated in the red zone until 72 h from symptom onset. This case highlights why force protection measures are important to reduce the incidence of both malaria and heat illness in deployed military and civilian populations. These prevention measures are particularly pertinent during the current EVD epidemic where presenting with these pathologies requires clinical assessment in the ‘red zone’ of an Ebola treatment unit.