Clinical Findings in Migrants With Asymptomatic Plasmodium Infections

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Migrants from malaria-endemic regions may carry asymptomatic Plasmodium infections that persist after moving to nonendemic countries.
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A study in Sweden found that 10.4% of asymptomatic sub-Saharan African migrants had blood-stage Plasmodium infections detected by PCR.
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Plasmodium-infected individuals exhibited higher rates of anemia, elevated ESR, raised immunoglobulin M, and splenomegaly compared to non-infected individuals.
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After antimalarial treatment, improvements were observed in splenomegaly and laboratory parameters among those with Plasmodium infections.
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Screening and treatment for asymptomatic malaria infections in migrants should be considered to prevent adverse health outcomes.

Open Forum Infectious Diseases

by Isabelle Eliasson, Katja Wyss, Rebecca Tafesse Bogale, Sofia Forsblom, Emil Lindquist, Caroline Rönnberg, Magnus Hansson, Soheir Beshara, Irene Nordling, Olof Hertting, Andreas Wångdahl, Anna Färnert
September 2, 2025

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