A Rare Case of Triple Pathogen Co-Infection with Rickettsia, Varicella Zoster Virus, and Plasmodium vivax Confirmed by PCR in an Immunocompetent Adult
Authors
Dr Nitin Rathod, Dr Andrea Janice Fonseca, Dr Akshita Jain, Dr Rajat ShendeFiles
Key Information
Journal
Published in Vol. 68 No. 2 (2026) of Bombay Hospital Journal.
Bombay Hospital Journal (BHJ) is a peer-reviewed quarterly published Print and Online journal. It is an official Journal of Bombay Hospital institute of medical sciences. The aim of BHJ is to improve medical care by publishing sound scientific articles (both research and practice papers) and focusing on topics that are of great importance to its readership.
Editor-in-Chief- Dr Satish Vasant Khadilkar
About the JournalAbstract
A 33-year-old immunocompetent male presented with high-grade fever, generalized maculopapular rash, myalgia, and headache after returning from rural Southeast Asia. Investigation by PCR based Tropical Fever Panel confirmed co-infection with Varicella-Zoster Virus, Rickettsia spp., and Plasmodium malariae. Patient was treated for all three infection concurrently and showed improvement in his symptoms after which he was discharged. This case highlights the importance of considering multiple concurrent tropical infections in endemic regions even in patients with no comorbidities.
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