Atypical Plasmodium vivax malaria in an adopted child

An atypical, because of relatively high parasitemia, multiply-infected erythrocytes and long incubation, Plasmodium vivax malaria case in an foreign born adopted child is presented. Features typical of Plasmodium vivax were enlarged infected erythrocytes, characteristic schizont and Schuffner's dots. Our observation emphasizes the importance of blood smear evaluation in traveller and foreign born adopted children.