A 50-year-old male presents with fever, fatigue, and shortness of breath. He recently returned from a trip to a malaria-endemic area. On examination, he appears pale. What could be the potential diagnosis and next steps?
This patient's presentation could be consistent with severe malaria with anemia. Malaria parasites destroy red blood cells, which can lead to anemia and associated symptoms like fatigue and shortness of breath. Immediate testing for malaria using a blood smear or RDT should be done, and if the diagnosis is confirmed, the patient should be treated with an appropriate antimalarial. If the anemia is severe, blood transfusion may be necessary.