Microscopy 'AIDS' in diagnosing a febrile infant

Abstract

A 5-month-old South African girl presented to a casualty department with a short history of fever. General examination did not reveal organomegaly or neck stiffness. In keeping with local guidelines, malaria was excluded on antigen testing and microscopy (thick and thin smear with Giemsa stain). Rickettsia typhi, R. conorii and Coxiella burnetti were also excluded on the basis of serological testing.