I came across the results of a patient who had just celebrated their 18th birthday, only to then find themselves admitted to the hospital on Christmas Day. What started as “holiday fatigue” quickly evolved into a clinical picture that demanded urgent haematological investigation.
The pathognomonic feature of Babesia is the Maltese Cross a tetrad of four daughter merozoites joined together. While our images showed a “partial cross” rather than a perfect tetrad, this arrangement is a definitive “smoking gun” that excludes malaria.
This week’s case involves a 58-year-old patient who presented to the Emergency Department with a five-day history of worsening “flu-like” symptoms, including high fevers, drenching sweats, and significant fatigue.
The parasite identified is Loa loa, a filarial nematode endemic to West and Central Africa. It is transmitted to humans via the bite of an infected Chrysops fly (deer fly).
This week’s case involves a 34 year old aid worker, who recently returned to the UK after spending two years in West Africa, with significant time spent in the rainforest regions.
Southeast Asian ovalocytosis is a common hereditary red cell membrane disorder in parts of Southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines. Unlike other forms of elliptocytosis, these cells are exceptionally rigid.
This week’s case comes from a patient of Southeast Asian descent who was recently admitted for a routine surgical workup. Interestingly, despite having no significant symptoms of anaemia, their laboratory results caught the attention of the haematology team.
These inclusions are formally known as critical green inclusions or green neutrophilic inclusions. In clinical circles, they have earned the ominous nickname “crystals of death” due to their strong association with impending mortality.
This week’s case features a patient currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) suffering from acute liver failure. The laboratory data and the resulting blood film provide a sobering look at the systemic impact of hepatic collapse.
This week’s case started with a “heads-up” call from the Haematology SpR before the sample even reached the lab. The staggering WBC and the specific clinical request made for an interesting discussion.
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