Transfusion malaria as the cause for unclear postoperative fever

An 18 month old boy developed septic fever 14 days after surgery not respon ding to antibiotic treatment. The cause was found to be a transfusion trans mitted infection with plasmodium falciparum. The patient completely recover ed after anti-malaria treatment with quinine and halofantrine. Discussion: In cases of unclear septic illness up to 3 month after a blood transfusion,a transfusion malaria should be included in the differential di agnosis. The mortality rate is 15%. Early treatment can prevent a lethal ou tcome.